Medical Terminology Cheat Sheet
1. a.c.: Before meals. As in taking a medicine before meals.
2. b.i.d.: Twice daily. As in taking a medicine twice daily.
3. BP: Blood pressure. Blood pressure is recorded as part of the physical examination. It is
one of the "vital signs."
4. cap: Capsule.
5. CBC: Complete blood count.
6. DM: Diabetes mellitus.
7. h.s.: At bedtime. As in taking a medicine at bedtime.
8. HA: Headache.
9. HTN: Hypertension.
10. LBP: Low back pain. LBP is one of most common medical complaints.
11. p.o.: By mouth. From the Latin terminology per os.
12. p.r.n.: As needed. So that it is not always done, but done only when the situation calls
for it (or example, taking a pain medication only when having pain)
13. q.d.: Each day. As in taking a medicine daily.
14. q.i.d.: Four times daily. As in taking a medicine four times daily.
15. q2h: Every 2 hours. As in taking a medicine every 2 hours.
16. q3h: Every 3 hours. As in taking a medicine every 3 hours.
17. qAM: Each morning. As in taking a medicine each morning.
18. qhs: At each bedtime. As in taking a medicine each bedtime.
19. qod: Every other day. As in taking a medicine every other day.
20. qPM: Each evening. As in taking a medicine each evening.
21. SOB: Shortness of breath.
22. t.i.d.: Three times daily. As in taking a medicine three times daily.
23. tab: Tablet.
24. URI: Upper respiratory infection, such as sinusitis or the common cold.
25. UTI: Urinary tract infection.
26. Wt: Weight. Body weight is often recorded as part of the physical examination.