Abbreviations
Time of Administration of Drugs – WHEN!
Meals
before
after
ac
pc
Time
Daily
Twice a day
Three times a day
Four times a day
Every hour
At bedtime
Every night
Immediately
every day, daily
bid
tid
qid
qh
at bedtime
qn
stat
Time based on 24 hour day
Every 2 hours
Every 4 hours
Every 6 hours
Every 8 hours
Every 12 hours
Time based on week
Every other day
As needed
Three times per week
q2h
q4h
q6h
q8h
q12h
qd
hs (not used)
q2° 12 times per day
q4°
6 times per day
q6°
4 times per day
q8°
3 times per day
q12°
2 times per day
Twice per week
every other day
qod (not used)
prn
three times per week
tiw or t.i.w. (not used)
biw
Military Time (0000 to 2400)
12 midnight
6 am
10:30 am
12 noon
1:20 pm
6 pm
7:30 pm
10:58 pm
(ADD 12 TO THE STANDARD HOURS)
0000 hour
0600
1030
1200
1320
1800
1930
2258
0130 1:30 am
1
1745
1100
2015
1910
0600
0050
5:45 pm
11:00 am
8:15 pm
7:10 pm
6:00 am
12:50 am
0000 <-> 2400
Routes of Administration – WHERE!
Right ear
Right ear
AD (not in use)
Left ear
Left ear
AL (not in use)
Each ear
Each ear
AU
Hand-held nebulizer
HHN
Intramuscularly
IM
90 degrees
Intravenously
IV
Intravenous push
IVP
Intravenous piggyback
IVPB
Metered-dose inhaler
MDI
Nebulizer
NEB
Nasogastric tube
NGT (ng)
Nasojejunal
NJ
In the right eye
OD oculus dextra
safer to WRITE OUT
In the left eye
OS oculus sinister
In both eyes
OU oculus utrique
By mouth
po (PO)
per os
In the rectum
pr (PR)
per rectum
Subcutaneously
Sub-Q or Sub Q subcut 45 degree angle
Sublingual, under the tongue SL
Swish and swallow
S&S
Metric and SI Abbreviations – How Much
cc
cubic centimeter
volume
1cc = 1mL
g
gram
kg
kilogram
1000 g = 1Kg
L
Liter
1000 mL = 1L
mcg microgram
1,000,000 micrograms = 1 gram
2
mg
milligram
1000 mg = 1 g
mEq milliequivalent
mL
milliliter
unit
the unit is particular to the medicine administered;
based on biological activity
Apothecary Abbreviations
Minim
m
1m = 1 drop 1 cc = 16 minims (liquid measure)
Dram
dr
1 dr = 4 mL (liquid measure)
Grain
gr
granum (solid measure)
1 gr = 60 mg
1 gr = 65 mg
Drop
gtt
guttae
(liquid measure)
1 gtt = 1 m (minim)
Use roman numerals
i
ii
iii
iv
v
vi
vii
viii
ix
x
xi
xii
xiii
xiv
xv
xvi
xvii
xviii
xix
xx
Household Abbreviations
3
Cup
Pint
Quart
Gallon
Tablespoon
Teaspoon
Ounce
c
pt
qt
gal
tbsp
tsp
oz
1 pint = 2 cups
1 pint = 500 mL
1 qt = 2 pt
1 gal = 4 qt
T
1tbsp = 15 mL
t
1 tsp = 5 mL
1 oz = 30 mL
Terms and Abbreviations for Drug Preparations - HOW
Capsule
cap, caps
Controlled release
CR
Long acting
LA
Sustained action
SA
Slow release
SR
Double strength
DS
Elixir
el, elix
Solution
Spirit
Suppository
sol
sp
sup, supp
Suspension
susp
Syrup
syr
Tablet
tab, tabs
Tincture
tr, tinct.
Ointment
ung, oint.
Keep vein open
To keep open
Discontinue
No known allergies
No known drug allergies
KVO
TKO
discontinue
NKA
NKDA
drug dissolved in hydroalcoholic
sweetend base
clear liquid
alcoholic liquid
solid, cylindrically shaped drug
Inserted rectally or vaginally
small particles of drug dispersed
Make sure bottle is shaken
Gels – small particles
Magmas – large particles
sugar dissolved in liquid
Medication (Mary Poppins)
medication that has been
Compressed
Check for scored tablets
Liquid alcoholic/hydroalcoholic
solution of a drug
Semisolids
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How to interpret Written Prescription Orders
a. what if you can’t read what is on the prescription?
Visit the following website:
http://berlex.bayerhealthcare.com/html/career/pharma/pdfs/CareersinPharmRole
OfTech.pdf
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