Commonly Used Abbreviations For Drug Orders

Front 1

Left

Back 1

L (circle around it)

Front 2

Right

Back 2

R (circle around it)

Front 3

Of each

Back 3

aa

Front 4

With

Back 4

c (with a line above it)

Front 5

Double strength

Back 5

DS

Front 6

Elixir

Back 6

elix.

Front 7

Fluid

Back 7

fl or fld.

Front 8

Drop

Back 8

gtt

Front 9

Normal Saline

Back 9

NS or N/S

Front 10

A sufficient amount/ as much as needed/ quantity sufficient

Back 10

q.s

Front 11

Without

Back 11

s (with a line above it)

Front 12

One half

Back 12

ss or ss (with a line above it)

Front 13

Sustained release

Back 13

SR

Front 14

Long acting

Back 14

XL

Front 15

Extended Release

Back 15

XR

Front 16

Ampule

Back 16

amp

Front 17

water

Back 17

aq

Front 18

Cup

Back 18

c

Front 19

Capsule

Back 19

cap or caps

Front 20

Enteric coated

Back 20

EC

Front 21

Mixture

Back 21

mix

Front 22

Solution

Back 22

sol or soln

Front 23

Suppository

Back 23

supp

Front 24

suspension

Back 24

susp

Front 25

Syrup

Back 25

syp or syr

Front 26

Tablet

Back 26

tab

Front 27

Tincture

Back 27

Tr or tinct

Front 28

Ointment

Back 28

ung. or oint

Front 29

Gastrostomy Tube

Back 29

gt or GT (a method)

Front 30

Intradermal

Back 30

I.D.

Front 31

Intramuscular

Back 31

I.M.

Front 32

Intravenous

Back 32

I.V.

Front 33

Intravenous Piggyback

Back 33

IVPB

Front 34

Intravenous soluset

Back 34

IVSS

Front 35

Keep Vein Open (a very slow infusion rate)

Back 35

KVO

Front 36

Nasogastric tube

Back 36

NGT

Front 37

Nothing by mouth

Back 37

n.p.o

Front 38

Through or by

Back 38

Per

Front 39

By or through mouth

Back 39

Per os or p.o

Front 40

By rectum

Back 40

p.r

Front 41

Subcutaneous

Back 41

s.c or S.C or s.q*

Front 42

*

Back 42

It is recommended to not use abbreviations that have the symbols by them because they tend to cause errors. However, some hospitals and medical facilities are still using these symbols.

Front 43

Sublingual

Back 43

sl or SL

Front 44

Swish or swallow

Back 44

S&S

Front 45

Vaginally

Back 45

vag

Front 46

Right ear

Back 46

A.D or AD*

Front 47

Left Ear

Back 47

A.S or AS*

Front 48

Both ears

Back 48

A.S or AS*

Front 49

Right eye

Back 49

OD*

Front 50

Mouth

Back 50

os*

Front 51

Left Eye

Back 51

OS*

Front 52

Both eyes

Back 52

OU*

Front 53

Rectum

Back 53

Rect*

Front 54

Before

Back 54

a (with a line above it)

Front 55

As desired

Back 55

ad.lib

Front 56

Twice a day

Back 56

b.i.d. or bid

Front 57

Discontinue

Back 57

d.c. or D/C

Front 58

Hour

Back 58

h or hr

Front 59

At bed time

Back 59

h.s.

Front 60

Minute

Back 60

min

Front 61

Once a day

Back 61

o.d. or OD

Front 62

After

Back 62

p (with a line above it)

Front 63

After meals

Back 63

p.c.

Front 64

When necessary

Back 64

p.r.n.

Front 65

Every, each

Back 65

q.

Front 66

Every morning

Back 66

q.a.m.

Front 67

Every day or once a day

Back 67

q.d or qd*

Front 68

Every Hour

Back 68

q.h or qh

Front 69

Every two hours, every four hours

Back 69

q2h, q4h

Front 70

Every night at bedtime

Back 70

qhs or q.h.s.

Front 71

Four times a day

Back 71

q.i.d. or qid

Front 72

Every other day

Back 72

q.o.d. or qod*

Front 73

Once if necessary

Back 73

s.o.s

Front 74

Immediately or at once

Back 74

stat or STAT

Front 75

Three times a day

Back 75

t.i.d. or tid

Front 76

Three times a week

Back 76

t.i.w.*