This appendix is meant to be a complete list of all abbreviations used in prescriptions in English-speaking countries (its listing here does not mean such abbreviations should be used).
· aa (ana) - of each
· ad - to, up to
· a.c. (ante cibium) - before meals
· a.d. (aurio dextra) - right ear
· ad lib. (ad libitum) - use as much as one desires; freely
· admov. (admove) - apply
· agit (agita) - stir/shake
· alt. h. (alternis horis) - every other hour
· a.m. (ante meridian) - morning, before noon
· amp - ampule
· amt - amount
· aq (aqua) - water
· a.l., a.s. (aurio laeva, aurio sinister) - left ear
· A.T.C. - around the clock
· a.u. (auris utrae) - both ears
· bis (bis) - twice
· b.i.d. (bis in die) - twice daily
· B.M. - bowel movement
· bol. (bolus) - a large pill
· B.S. - blood sugar
· B.S.A - body surface areas
· cap., caps. (capsula) - capsule
· c (cum) - with (usually written with a bar on top of the "c")
· c (cibos) - food
· cc - cubic centimetre; also means "with food" (cum cibos)
· cf - with food
· C.H.F. - congestive heart failure
· comp. - compound
· cr., crm - cream
· D5W - dextrose 5% solution (sometimes written as D5W)
· D5NS - dextrose 5% in normal saline (0.9%)
· D.A.W. - dispense as written
· dc, D/C, disc - discontinue
· dieb. alt. (diebus alternis) - every other day
· dil. - dilute
· disp. - dispense
· div. - divide
· d.t.d. (dentur tales doses) - give of such doses
· D.W. - distilled water
· elix. - elixir
· e.m.p. (ex modo prescripto) - as directed
· emuls. (emulsum) - emulsion
· et - and
· ex aq - in water
· fl., fld. - fluid
· ft. (fiat) - make; let it be made
· g - gram
· G.I. - gastrointestinal
· gr - grain
· gtt(s) (gutta(e)) - drop(s)
· G.U. - genitourinary
· H - hypodermic
· h, hr - hour
· H.A. - headache
· H.B.P. - high blood pressure
· h.s. (hora somni) - at bedtime
· HTN - hypertension
· ID - intradermal
· IM - intramuscular (with respect to injections)
· inj. (injectio) - injection
· IP - intraperitoneal
· IV - intravenous
o IVP - intravenous push
o IVPB - intravenous piggyback
· L.A.S."' - label as such
· LCD - coal tar solution
· lin (linimentum) - liniment
· liq (liquor) - solution
· lot. - lotion
· M. (misce) - mix
· m, min (mininum) - a minimum
· mcg - microgram
· mEq - milliequivalent
· mg - milligram
· mist. (mistura) - mix
· mitte (mitte) - send
· mL - millilitre
· N&V, N/V - nausea and vomitting
· nebul (nebula) - a spray
· N.K.A. - no known allergies
· N.K.D.A. - no known drug allergies
· N.M.T. - not more than
· noct. (nocte) - at night
· non rep. (non repetatur) - no repeats
· NPO, n.p.o. (non per os) - nothing by mouth
· NS - normal saline (0.9%)
· 1/2NS - half normal saline (0.45%)
· N.T.E. - not to exceed
· o_2 - both eyes, sometimes written as o2
· o.d. (oculus dexter) - right eye
· o.s. (oculus sinister) - left eye
· o.u. (oculo utro) - both eyes
· oz - ounce
· per - by or through
· p.c. (post cibium) - after meals
· p.m. (post meridian) - evening or afternoon
· prn (pro re nata) - as needed
· p.o. (per os) - by mouth or orally
· p.r. - by rectum
· pulv. (pulvis) - powder
· q (quaque) - every
· q.a.d. (quoque alternis die) - every other day
· q.h. (quaque hora) - every hour
· q.1h (quaque 1 hora) - every 1 hour; (can replace "1" with other numbers)
· q.d. (quaque die) - every day
· q.i.d. (quater in die) - four times a day
· q.o.d. - every other day
· q.s. (quantum sufficiat) - a sufficient quantity
· R- rectal
· rep., rept. (repetatur) - repeats
· RL, R/L - Ringer's lactate
· s (sine) - without (usually written with a bar on top of the "s")
· s.a. (secundum artum) - use your judgement
· SC, subc, subq, subcut - subcutaneous
· sig - write on label
· SL - sublingually, under the tongue
· S.O.B. - shortness of breath
· sol (solutio) - solution
· s.o.s., si op. sit (si opus sit) - if there is a need