Commonly Used Medication Abbreviations

Front 1

c, C

Back 1

cup

Front 2

cc

Back 2

cubic centimeter

Front 3

g

Back 3

gram

Front 4

gr

Back 4

grain

Front 5

gtt

Back 5

drop

Front 6

IU

Back 6

International Unit

Front 7

kg

Back 7

kilogram

Front 8

L

Back 8

liter

Front 9

m

Back 9

minim (medications no longer administered in drams and minims)

Front 10

mcg

Back 10

microgram

Front 11

mEq

Back 11

milliequivalent (drug measure in which electrolytes are measured. It expresses the ionic activity of a drug).

Front 12

mg

Back 12

milligram

Front 13

mL

Back 13

milliliter

Front 14

MU

Back 14

milliunits

Front 15

oz (or funny thing looking like a 3 with an extra loop)

Back 15

ounce

Front 16

pt

Back 16

pint

Front 17

qt

Back 17

quart

Front 18

T, tbs

Back 18

Tablespoon

Front 19

t, tsp

Back 19

teaspoon

Front 20

U

Back 20

Unit

Front 21

/

Back 21

per

Front 22

<

Back 22

less than

Front 23

>

Back 23

greater than

Front 24

= (with ~ on top of =)

Back 24

approximately

Front 25

upward arrow

Back 25

increase

Front 26

downward arrow

Back 26

decrease

Front 27

delta (triangle)

Back 27

change

Front 28

+/-, (plus sign over minus sign)

Back 28

plus or minus

Front 29

a¯

Back 29

before

Front 30

aa, aa¯

Back 30

of each

Front 31

a.c., ac

Back 31

before meals

Front 32

ad.lib

Back 32

as desired, freely

Front 33

am, AM

Back 33

morning before noon

Front 34

amp

Back 34

ampule

Front 35

aq

Back 35

aqueous, water

Front 36

b.i.d., bid

Back 36

twice a day

Front 37

b.i.w

Back 37

twice a week

Front 38

c¯

Back 38

with

Front 39

c, C

Back 39

cup

Front 40

cap, caps

Back 40

capsule

Front 41

CD

Back 41

controlled dose

Front 42

CR

Back 42

controlled release

Front 43

dil.

Back 43

dilute

Front 44

DS

Back 44

double strength

Front 45

EC

Back 45

enteric coated

Front 46

elix.

Back 46

elixir

Front 47

fl, fld

Back 47

fluid

Front 48

gt, GT

Back 48

gastrostomy tube

Front 49

gtt

Back 49

drop

Front 50

h, hr

Back 50

hour

Front 51

ID

Back 51

intradermal

Front 52

IM

Back 52

intramuscular

Front 53

IN

Back 53

intranasal

Front 54

IV

Back 54

intravenous

Front 55

IVPB

Back 55

Intravenous piggy back

Front 56

IVSS

Back 56

intravenous soluset

Front 57

KVO

Back 57

keep vein open (a very slow infusion rate)

Front 58

LA

Back 58

long-acting

Front 59

LOS

Back 59

length of stay

Front 60

min

Back 60

minute

Front 61

mix

Back 61

mixture

Front 62

NGT, ng

Back 62

nasogastric tube

Front 63

noc, noct

Back 63

at night

Front 64

n.p.o. NPO

Back 64

nothing by mouth

Front 65

NS, N/S

Back 65

normal saline

Front 66

o.n.

Back 66

every night

Front 67

p¯

Back 67

after

Front 68

p.c., pc

Back 68

after meals

Front 69

per

Back 69

through or by

Front 70

p.o.

Back 70

by mouth, oral

Front 71

pm, PM

Back 71

p.r. by rectum

Front 72

p.r.n., prn

Back 72

when necessary / required, as needed

Front 73

q.

Back 73

every

Front 74

q.a.m.

Back 74

every morning

Front 75

q.h., qh

Back 75

every hour

Front 76

q2h, q4h, q6h

Back 76

every 2 hours, every 4 hours, every 6 hours

Front 77

q.i.d., qid

Back 77

four times a day

Front 78

q.s.

Back 78

a sufficient amount / as much as needed

Front 79

rect

Back 79

rectum

Front 80

s¯

Back 80

without

Front 81

subcut, Sub-Q, subq

Back 81

subcutaneous

Front 82

sl, SL

Back 82

sublingual

Front 83

sol, soln

Back 83

solution

Front 84

s.o.s.

Back 84

once if necessary

Front 85

SR

Back 85

sustained release

Front 86

S&S

Back 86

swish and swallow

Front 87

stat, STAT

Back 87

immediately, at once

Front 88

supp

Back 88

suppository

Front 89

syp, syr

Back 89

syrup

Front 90

tab

Back 90

tablet

Front 91

t.i.d, tid

Back 91

three times a day

Front 92

tr., tinct

Back 92

tincture

Front 93

ung, oint

Back 93

ointment

Front 94

vag, v

Back 94

vaginally

Front 95

X

Back 95

times

Front 96

XL

Back 96

long acting

Front 97

XR

Back 97

extended release