Top 100 Essential Pharmacy Abbreviations You Must Know

 

Common Pharmacy Abbreviations Examples Youtube link given at the end of the page.

1. a.c.: Before meals
   Example: Take 1 tablet a.c. daily.

2. a.d.: Right ear
   Example: Instill 2 drops a.d. twice daily.

3. a.s.: Left ear
   Example: Instill 2 drops a.s. twice daily.

4. a.u.: Both ears
   Example: Instill 2 drops a.u. twice daily.

5. ad lib.: As desired
   Example: Use ad lib for pain.

6. AM: Morning
   Example: Take 1 tablet in the AM.

7. amp: Ampule
   Example: Administer one amp IM.

8. AQ: Aqueous
   Example: Use AQ solution for nebulizer.

9. bid: Twice a day
   Example: Take 1 capsule bid.

10. BM: Bowel movement
   Example: Take 1 tablespoon for BM.

11. BP: Blood pressure
   Example: Monitor BP daily.

12. bucc: Buccal
   Example: Place 1 tablet bucc PRN.

13. cap: Capsule
   Example: Take 2 caps daily.

14. cc: Cubic centimeter
   Example: Inject 2 cc IM.

15. CNS: Central nervous system
   Example: Monitor CNS effects.

16. CR: Controlled release
   Example: Take 1 CR tablet daily.

17. CSR: Central Supply Room
   Example: Send to CSR for sterilization.

18. DC: Discontinue
   Example: DC use if side effects occur.

19. D5W: 5% Dextrose in water
   Example: Infuse D5W at 100 mL/hr.

20. disp: Dispense
   Example: Disp 30 tablets.

21. DS: Double strength
   Example: Take 1 DS tablet daily.

22. EC: Enteric coated
   Example: Take 1 EC tablet daily.

23. elix: Elixir
   Example: Take 1 tsp elix daily.

24. ER: Extended release
   Example: Take 1 ER tablet daily.

25. FDA: Food and Drug Administration
   Example: FDA approved medication.

26. g: Gram
   Example: Apply 1 g ointment.

27. gtt: Drop
   Example: Instill 2 gtt in eye.

28. HCl: Hydrochloric acid
   Example: Use HCl solution for dilution.

29. hs: At bedtime
   Example: Take 1 tablet hs.

30. ICU: Intensive Care Unit
   Example: Admit to ICU for observation.

31. IM: Intramuscular
   Example: Administer 1 mL IM.

32. in: Inch
   Example: Apply 2 inches of ointment.

33. inj: Injection
   Example: Give 1 mL inj.

34. IV: Intravenous
   Example: Administer IV fluids.

35. IVPB: Intravenous piggyback
   Example: Infuse antibiotic IVPB.

36. kg: Kilogram
   Example: Calculate dose per kg.

37. L: Liter
   Example: Infuse 1 L of saline.

38. lb: Pound
   Example: Patient weighs 150 lb.

39. liq: Liquid
   Example: Take 1 tbsp liq daily.

40. LR: Lactated Ringer's
   Example: Infuse 1 L LR solution.

41. mcg: Microgram
   Example: Administer 500 mcg.

42. mEq: Milliequivalent
   Example: Take 20 mEq potassium.

43. mg: Milligram
   Example: Take 500 mg tablet.

44. mL: Milliliter
   Example: Inject 2 mL IM.

45. MR: Modified release
   Example: Take 1 MR tablet daily.

46. MS: Morphine sulfate
   Example: Administer 10 mg MS.

47. NG: Nasogastric
   Example: Insert NG tube for feeding.

48. NSAID: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug
   Example: Take 1 NSAID for pain.

49. NTG: Nitroglycerin
   Example: Place 1 NTG tab SL PRN.

50. od: Right eye
   Example: Instill 1 drop od daily.

51. os: Left eye
   Example: Instill 1 drop os daily.

52. ou: Both eyes
   Example: Instill 1 drop ou daily.

53. OTC: Over the counter
   Example: Buy OTC pain relief.

54. pc: After meals
   Example: Take 1 tablet pc.

55. p.o.: By mouth
   Example: Take 1 tablet p.o.

56. pr: Per rectum
   Example: Insert 1 suppository pr.

57. prn: As needed
   Example: Take 1 tablet prn for pain.

58. q: Every
   Example: Take 1 tablet q 8 hours.

59. q.d.: Every day
   Example: Take 1 tablet q.d.

60. q.h.: Every hour
   Example: Instill 1 drop q.h.

61. q.i.d.: Four times a day
   Example: Take 1 capsule q.i.d.

62. q.o.d.: Every other day
   Example: Take 1 tablet q.o.d.

63. qam: Every morning
   Example: Take 1 tablet qam.

64. qpm: Every evening
   Example: Take 1 tablet qpm.

65. R: Rectal
   Example: Insert 1 suppository R.

66. Rx: Prescription
   Example: Rx for antibiotics.

67. s.c.: Subcutaneous
   Example: Inject 1 mL s.c.

68. SL: Sublingual
   Example: Place 1 tablet SL PRN.

69. sol: Solution
   Example: Use saline sol for rinse.

70. stat: Immediately
   Example: Administer stat dose.

71. supp: Suppository
   Example: Insert 1 supp rectally.

72. susp: Suspension
   Example: Shake well before using susp.

73. tab: Tablet
   Example: Take 2 tabs daily.

74. tbsp: Tablespoon
   Example: Take 1 tbsp daily.

75. t.i.d.: Three times a day
   Example: Take 1 capsule t.i.d.

76. tsp: Teaspoon
   Example: Take 1 tsp daily.

77. T1DM: Type 1 diabetes mellitus
   Example: Patient diagnosed with T1DM.

78. T2DM: Type 2 diabetes mellitus
   Example: Patient diagnosed with T2DM.

79. TPN: Total parenteral nutrition
   Example: Administer TPN via IV.

80. tsp: Teaspoon
   Example: Take 1 tsp daily.

81. u: Unit
   Example: Administer 10 u insulin.

82. ung: Ointment
   Example: Apply ung to affected area.

83. U.S.P.: United States Pharmacopeia
   Example: Follow U.S.P. guidelines.

84. UTI: Urinary tract infection
   Example: Treat UTI with antibiotics.

85. vag: Vaginal
   Example: Insert 1 vag tablet.

86. v.o.: Verbal order
   Example: Doctor gave v.o. for medication.

87. WBC: White blood cell
   Example: Check WBC count.

88. wk: Week
   Example: Follow up in 1 wk.

89. wt: Weight
   Example: Monitor patient's wt.

90. y.o.: Year old
   Example: Patient is 35 y.o.

91. ZnO: Zinc oxide
   Example: Apply ZnO ointment to rash.

92. CBC: Complete blood count
   Example: Order CBC test.

93. CPR: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
   Example: Perform CPR immediately.

94. DNR: Do not resuscitate
   Example: Patient has DNR order.

95. GI: Gastrointestinal
   Example: Check for GI symptoms.

96. HRT: Hormone replacement therapy
   Example: Patient on HRT.

97. IC: Intracardiac
   Example: Administer IC injection.

98. IU: International unit
   Example: Administer 500 IU vitamin D.

99. LFT: Liver function test
   Example: Order LFT for patient.

100. OT: Occupational therapy
   Example: Refer patient to OT.

Youtube link: https://youtu.be/uzPQROd6nmM