a
before
aa
of each or equal quantities
aaa
apply to affected area(s)
ac
before meal(s)
ad
right ear
ERROR-PRONE (Write Out)
am
morning
amp
ampules
aq
water
as
left ear
ERROR-PRONE (Write Out)
au
both ears
ERROR-PRONE (Write Out)
BID
twice daily
BT
Bedtime
ERROR-PRONE (Write Out)
c
with
cap
capsule or caplet
cc
cubic centimeter (same as milliliter)
cmpd
compound
cr
cream
d
day or daily
DAW
dispense as written (i.e. no generic)
DC, dc, d/c
discontinue or discharge
ERROR-PRONE (Write Out)
disp
dispense
DPI
dry powdered inhaler
Drug names
e.g. HCTZ (hydrochlorothiazide), MS (morphine or mag sulfate), DPH (diphenhydramine or phenytoin)
DO NOT USE
Always spell out drug names
DS
double strength
dx
diagnosis
elix
elixir
fl oz
fluid ounce
g, gm
gram
gr
grain
gtt, gtts
drop, drops
h, hr, �
hour
� is an ERROR-PRONE symbol
hs
at bed time OR half strength
ERROR-PRONE (Write Out)
i, ii, or iii
1, 2, or 3 tablets. Sometimes seen with a bar and dots.
Use of Arabic numbers are preferred.
IJ
injection
ERROR-PRONE (Write Out)
IM
intramuscular
IU
international units
DO NOT USE
ERROR-PRONE (Write Out)
IV
intravenously (for injectables)
IVPB
IV piggyback
IVP
IV push
kg
kilogram
lb
pound
M^3
Meters cubed
max
maximum
MDI
metered dose inhaler
mEq
milliequivalent
mcg or �g
microgram
�g ERROR-PRONE
mcg preferred
mg
milligram
ml or mL
milliliter
mm
millimeters
MS
morphine sulfate, magnesium salicylate, or multiple sclerosis
DO NOT USE
ERROR-PRONE
neb
nebulizer
n
nostril
npo, NPO
nothing by mouth
od
right eye OR 1 time daily
ERROR-PRONE (Write Out)
os
left eye
ERROR PRONE
ou
both eyes
ERROR PRONE
oz
ounce
(Do not use apothecary symbols ?)
p
after
pc
after meal(s)
Per os
By mouth (orally)
ERROR-PRONE (Write Out)
pm
evening or night time
po
by mouth
pr
per rectum or rectally
prn
as needed
pv
vaginally
q
every
Q am
every morning
Qd or Q1D
every day or daily (do not use 1 time daily)
DO NOT USE
ERROR-PRONE (Write Out)
Q hs
every night at bedtime, at bedtime nightly
ERROR-PRONE
Q 4h
every 4 hours
Q 6 pm
Daily at 6 pm
ERROR-PRONE (Write Out)
qid
four times a day
qod
every other day (or every day orally)
DO NOT USE
ERROR-PRONE
qn
each nostril or nightly
ERROR PRONE (Write Out)
qs
sufficient amount
qs ad
a sufficient quantity to make
s
without
(sometimes seen as w/o)
sc, sq, sub q, sub c
subcutaneous
ERROR-PRONE (Write Out or subcut)
sig
directions
sl
sublingual (under tongue)
ss
one-half or sliding scale
ERROR-PRONE (Write Out)
SSI or SSRI
Sliding Scale Insulin or Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor
ERROR-PRONE (Write Out)
stat
immediately
sup
suppository
susp
suspension
sx
symptoms
tab
tablet
tsp
TEAspoonful (5 mL)
tbsp
TABLEspoonful (15 mL)
tid
three times a day
tiw
three times a week or twice a week
ERROR-PRONE
tx
treatment
U
unit
DO NOT USE
ERROR-PRONE
ud, utd, ut dict
as directed (should be fully explained)
ERROR-PRONE
ung
ointment
WA
while awake
a
before
aa
of each or equal quantities
aaa
apply to affected area(s)
ac
before meal(s)
ad
right ear
ERROR-PRONE (Write Out)
am
morning
amp
ampules
aq
water
as
left ear
ERROR-PRONE (Write Out)
au
both ears
ERROR-PRONE (Write Out)
BID
twice daily
BT
Bedtime
ERROR-PRONE (Write Out)
c
with
cap
capsule or caplet
cc
cubic centimeter (same as milliliter)
cmpd
compound
cr
cream
d
day or daily
DAW
dispense as written (i.e. no generic)
DC, dc, d/c
discontinue or discharge
ERROR-PRONE (Write Out)
disp
dispense
DPI
dry powdered inhaler
Drug names
e.g. HCTZ (hydrochlorothiazide), MS (morphine or mag sulfate), DPH (diphenhydramine or phenytoin)
DO NOT USE
Always spell out drug names
DS
double strength
dx
diagnosis
elix
elixir
fl oz
fluid ounce
g, gm
gram
gr
grain
gtt, gtts
drop, drops
h, hr, �
hour
� is an ERROR-PRONE symbol
hs
at bed time OR half strength
ERROR-PRONE (Write Out)
i, ii, or iii
1, 2, or 3 tablets. Sometimes seen with a bar and dots.
Use of Arabic numbers are preferred.
IJ
injection
ERROR-PRONE (Write Out)
IM
intramuscular
IU
international units
DO NOT USE
ERROR-PRONE (Write Out)
IV
intravenously (for injectables)
IVPB
IV piggyback
IVP
IV push
kg
kilogram
lb
pound
M^3
Meters cubed
max
maximum
MDI
metered dose inhaler
mEq
milliequivalent
mcg or �g
microgram
�g ERROR-PRONE
mcg preferred
mg
milligram
ml or mL
milliliter
mm
millimeters
MS
morphine sulfate, magnesium salicylate, or multiple sclerosis
DO NOT USE
ERROR-PRONE
neb
nebulizer
n
nostril
npo, NPO
nothing by mouth
od
right eye OR 1 time daily
ERROR-PRONE (Write Out)
os
left eye
ERROR PRONE
ou
both eyes
ERROR PRONE
oz
ounce
(Do not use apothecary symbols ?)
p
after
pc
after meal(s)
Per os
By mouth (orally)
ERROR-PRONE (Write Out)
pm
evening or night time
po
by mouth
pr
per rectum or rectally
prn
as needed
pv
vaginally
q
every
Q am
every morning
Qd or Q1D
every day or daily (do not use 1 time daily)
DO NOT USE
ERROR-PRONE (Write Out)
Q hs
every night at bedtime, at bedtime nightly
ERROR-PRONE
Q 4h
every 4 hours
Q 6 pm
Daily at 6 pm
ERROR-PRONE (Write Out)
qid
four times a day
qod
every other day (or every day orally)
DO NOT USE
ERROR-PRONE
qn
each nostril or nightly
ERROR PRONE (Write Out)
qs
sufficient amount
qs ad
a sufficient quantity to make
s
without
(sometimes seen as w/o)
sc, sq, sub q, sub c
subcutaneous
ERROR-PRONE (Write Out or subcut)
sig
directions
sl
sublingual (under tongue)
ss
one-half or sliding scale
ERROR-PRONE (Write Out)
SSI or SSRI
Sliding Scale Insulin or Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor
ERROR-PRONE (Write Out)
stat
immediately
sup
suppository
susp
suspension
sx
symptoms
tab
tablet
tsp
TEAspoonful (5 mL)
tbsp
TABLEspoonful (15 mL)
tid
three times a day
tiw
three times a week or twice a week
ERROR-PRONE
tx
treatment
U
unit
DO NOT USE
ERROR-PRONE
ud, utd, ut dict
as directed (should be fully explained)
ERROR-PRONE
ung
ointment
WA
while awake