COMMON ABBREVATIONS

Abbreviation	Meaning / Intended Meaning
1/2NS	one-half normal saline (0.45%)
5-ASA	5-aminosalicylic acid
a	before
A.M.	morning
aa	of each
AAA	abdominal aortic aneurysm (called a "triple-A")
AAA	apply to affected area
ac	before meals
achs	before meals and at bedtime
AD	right ear
ad lib	freely; as much as desired
ad sat.	to saturation
ad.	to; up to
ALT	alanine aminotransferase
alt.	alternate
alt. h.	every other hour
am, A.M.	in the morning; before noon
amp	ampule
amt.	amount
ant.	anterior
ante	before
ap	before dinner
APAP	acetaminophen
aPTT	activated partial thromboplastin
AQ, aq	water
a.s., AS	left ear
ASA	aspirin
AST	aspartate aminotransferase
ATC	around the clock
AU	each ear; both ears
AZT	zidovudine
Ba	barium
BCP	birth control pills
Bi	bismuth
bid, BID	twice a day
BM	bowel movement
BMI	body mass index
bol	bolus
BP	blood pressure
BPH	benign prostatic hypertrophy
BS	blood sugar
BSA	body surface area
BT	bedtime
c	with
C.C.	chief complaint
c/o	complaints of
C&S	culture and sensitivity
CABG	coronary artery bypass graft
CaCO3	calcium carbonate
CAD	coronary artery disease
CAP	cancer of the prostate
cap.	capsule
CBC	complete blood count
cc	cubic centimeter
CD	controlled delivery
CF	cystic fibrosis
cm	centimeter
CNS	central nervous system
conc	concentrated
CPZ	Compazine
CR	controlled-release
cr, crm	cream
CV	cardiovascular
CXR	chest x-ray
D/C, dc, disc.	discontinue OR discharge
D5/0.9 NaCl	5% dextrose and normal saline solution (0.9% NaCl)
D5 1/2/NS	5% dextrose and half normal saline solution (0.45% NaCl)
D5NS	dextrose 5% in normal saline (0.9%)
D5W	5% dextrose in water
DAW	dispense as written
DBP	diastolic blood pressure
dil.	diluted
disp	dispense
div	divide
DKA	diabetic ketoacidosis
dL	deciliter
DM	diabetes mellitus
DO	Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
DOB	date of birth
DPT	diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus
DR	delayed-release
DVT	deep vein thrombosis
DW	dextrose in water, diabetes mellitus or distilled water
EC	enteric-coated
EENT	Eye, Ear, Nose, and Throat
elix.	elixir
emuls.	emulsion
ER	extended-release
ER	emergency room
ETOH	ethyl alcohol
F	Fahrenheit
f or F	female
FBS	fasting blood sugar
FDA	Food and Drug Administration
Fe	Iron
FFP	fresh frozen plasma
fl or fld	fluid
ft	foot
G, or g, or gm	gram
garg	gargle
GERD	gastroesophageal reflux disease
GI	gastrointestinal
gr.	grain
GTT	glucose tolerance test
gtt, gtts	drop, drops
GU	genitourinary
guttat.	drop by drop
h, or hr.	hour
h/o	history of
H&H	hematocrit and hemoglobin
H2	histamine 2
H20	water
HAART	highly active antiretroviral therapy
HCT, or Hct	hematocrit
HCT	hydrocortisone
HCTZ	hydrochlorothiazide
HR	heart rate
HS	half-strength
hs or HS	at bedtime, hours of sleep
HTN	hypertension
hx	history
IBW	ideal body weight
ID	intradermal OR infectious disease
IJ	injection
IM	intramuscular
IN	intranasal
inf	infusion
inj.	injection
instill.	instillation
IP	intraperitoneal
IR	immediate-release
IU	international unit
IUD	intrauterine device
IV	intravenous
IVP	intravenous push
IVPB	intravenous piggyback
J	joule
K	potassium
KOH	potassium hydroxide
L	liter
LA	long-acting
lab	laboratory
lb.	pound
LDL	low-density lipoprotein
LFT	liver function tests
Li	lithium
liq.	liquid
LMP	last menstrual period
lot	lotion
LPN	licensed practical nurse
LR	lactated ringer (solution)
mane	in the morning
mcg	microgram
MD	medical doctor
MDI	metered-dose inhaler
mEq	milliequivalent
mEq/L	milliequivalent per liter
Mg	magnesium
mg	milligram
MgSO4	magnesium sulfate
mL	milliliter
mm	millimeter
mm of Hg	millimeters of mercury
mMol	millimole
MMR	measle-mumps-rubella (vaccine)
mol wt	molecular weight
MR	modified-release
MS	morphine sulfate or magnesium sulfate
MSO4	morphine sulfate
n or noct.	in the night
N/A	not applicable
N/V, N&V	nausea and vomiting
Na	sodium
NAS	intranasal
NDC	National Drug Code
NGT	nasogastric tube
NH3	ammonia
NKA	no known allergies
NKDA	no known drug allergies
noct. maneq.	night and morning
NP	nurse practitioner
NPO, n.p.o.	nothing by mouth
NS	normal saline
NSAID	nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug
NTE	not to exceed
O2	oxygen
OC	oral contraceptive
o.d., OD	right eye
o.d.	once per day
OJ	orange juice
OM	otitis media
o.s., OS	left eye
OTC	over-the-counter
o.u., OU	both eyes
oz	ounce
p	after
p.r.n., prn	as needed
PA	physician assistant
pc	after meals
PCA	patient-controlled analgesia
PE	physical exam, pulmonary embolism
per	by or through
per neb	by nebulizer
per os	by mouth, orally
PFT	pulmonary function tests
pH	hydrogen ion concentration
PharmD	Doctor of Pharmacy
PM	evening
PMH	past medical history
PO, p.o.	orally or by mouth
PR, p.r.	per the rectum
PT	prothrombin time
PTT	partial thromboplastin time
pulv	powder
PV	per the vagina
q	every
q.s., qs	as much as needed; a sufficient quantity
q12h	every 12 hours
qd, q1d	daily
q2h	every 2 hours
q3h	every 3 hours
q4h	every 4 hours
q6h	every 6 hours
q6PM, etc	every evening at 6 PM
q8h	every 8 hours
qam	every morning
qd, QD	every day
qh	every hour
qhs	each night at bedtime
qid	four times a day
qn	Nightly or at bedtime
qod, QOD, q.o.d	every other day
q.s. ad	add sufficient quantity to make
RA	rheumatoid arthritis
RDA	recommended daily allowances
RE	right eye
rep	repeats
RN	registered nurse
RPh	pharmacist
Rx	prescription
s	without
s.o.s.	if necessary
sa	according to the art; best practice
SA	sustained action
SBP	systolic blood pressure
SID	Used ONLY in Veterinary medicine to mean "once daily"
sig codes	medical or prescription abbreviations
Sig.	write on label
SL, s.l.	sublingual, under the tongue
SNRI	serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor
SOB	shortness of breath
sol	solution; in solution
sp gr	specific gravity
SQ, SC, sub q	subcutaneously
SR	sustained release
ss	sliding scale (insulin) OR 1/2 (apothecary; obsolete)
SSI	Sliding scale insulin
SSRI	sliding scale regular insulin OR selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor
stat	immediately
STD	sexually transmitted diseases
sup.	superior
supf.	superficial
supp	suppository
susp	suspension
syr.	syrup
T	temperature
tab	tablet
tbsp	tablespoon
TIA	transient ischemic attack
TID, t.i.d.	three times a day
tid ac	three times a day before meals
TIN, t.i.n.	three times a night
tinct., tr	tincture
TIW, tiw	3 times a week
top.	topical
TO	telephone order
TPN	total parenteral nutrition
TR	timed-release
troche	lozenge
TSH	thyroid stimulating hormone
tsp	teaspoon
Tx	treatment
U or u	unit
UA	urinalysis
ud, ut dict, UD	as directed
ung	ointment
UTI	urinary tract infection
vag, pv	via the vagina
VLDL	very low density lipoprotein
vol %	volume percent
vol.	volume
w/o	without
w/v	weight in volume
WBC	white blood cell
WNL	within normal limits
wt.	weight
x	multiplied by
XL	extended-release
XR	extended-release
XT	extended-release
yo	years old
yr	year
Zn	zinc
μEq	microequivalent
μg, mcg	microgram
μL	microliter