Medical Abbreviations |
Latin Word |
Meaning of each |
a.a.; a.c. |
ante cibum |
before meals |
a.d. |
aurio dextra |
right ear |
ad lib |
ad libitum |
as desired |
a.l. |
aurio laeva |
left ear |
alt. h. |
alternis hora |
every other hour |
A.M. ; a.m. |
ante meridian |
morning |
amp |
ampule | |
amt |
amount | |
aq |
aqua |
water |
a.u. |
aures utrae |
each ear |
b.i.d. |
bis in die |
twice daily |
BSA |
body surface area | |
c. |
cum |
with |
C & A |
Clinitest and Acetest | |
cap or caps |
capsula |
capsule |
cc |
cubic centimeter | |
cibus |
cibus |
food |
dil |
dilue, dilutus |
dilute |
disc; D.C. |
discontinue | |
dr |
dram | |
D/RL |
dextrose with Ringer's lactate solution | |
D.W. |
Distilled Water | |
D5W |
Dextrose 5% in water | |
elix |
elixer | |
fl; fld |
fluid | |
gm |
gram | |
gr |
granum |
grain, grains |
gtt |
gutta(e) |
drop(s) |
h or hr |
hora |
hour |
H |
Hypodermic | |
h.s. or hor.som |
hora somni |
at bedtime |
IM |
intramuscular | |
IV |
intravenous | |
IVP |
intravenous push | |
IVPB |
intravenous piggy back | |
Kg; kg |
kilogram | |
K.V.O or TKO |
keep vein open; to keep open | |
L |
liter | |
l. |
laevo |
left |
lb |
pound | |
M. |
misce |
mix |
m |
meter | |
min |
minim |
minimum |
m2 |
meter squared | |
mEq |
milliequivalent | |
mcg |
microgram | |
mg |
milligram | |
ml |
milliliters | |
N & V |
nausea and vomiting | |
NaCl |
sodium chloride (salt) | |
noc; noct |
noctis |
night |
non rep |
Non repatatur |
do not repeat |
NPO |
Non Per Os |
nothing by mouth |
N.S.; NS; N/S |
normal saline | |
½ NS |
Half strength normal saline | |
O |
Octaris |
pint |
O.D. |
Oculus Dextra |
right eye |
O.S. |
Oculus Sinistra |
left eye |
os |
Os |
By mouth |
O.U. |
Oculo utro |
both eyes |
oz |
Ounce | |
p.c. |
post cibum |
after meals |
per |
By means of | |
P.M. ; pm |
Post meridian |
afternoon |
p.o. |
Per os |
By mouth |
PRN; p.r.n |
Pro re nata |
as needed |
pt |
pint | |
q; q |
Quaque, quisque |
each, every |
q.d. |
Quaque diem |
every day |
q.i.d. |
Quater in die |
four time daily |
q.h. |
Quaque hora |
every hour |
q.o.d. |
every other day | |
q. 2. h |
every two hours | |
q. 4. h |
every four hours | |
q. 8. h |
every eight hours | |
q. 12. h. |
every twelve hours | |
q.s. or Q.S. |
Quantum sufficit |
as much as sufficient |
qt |
quart | |
R; |
rectal | |
R.L.; R/L |
Ringers Lactate | |
Rx |
Recipie |
to take |
Rept |
repetatur |
let it be repeated |
s |
sin |
without |
s.c.; subc; subq |
subcutaneous |
under the skin |
sig |
Signa, signetur |
write |
ss |
Semi |
One- half |
sp |
Spirits | |
stat |
Statim |
Immediately |
supp, suppos |
Suppositorium |
suppository |
suppos rect |
Rectal suppository | |
syr |
Syrup | |
tab |
tabella, tabetta |
tablet |
tbsp; T, tbs |
Tablespoon | |
t.i.d. |
Ter in die |
three times a day |
tinct; tr |
tincture | |
tsp; t |
teaspoon | |
U; u |
Unit | |
u.d. |
Ut dict |
as directed |
ung |
Ointment |