Pharmacy abbreviations and acronyms are an effective means through which medical instructions can be transmitted from the prescriber to the pharmacist and pharmacy technicians.
Here, we have put together a list of the most commonly used pharmacy abbreviations – the ones you are most likely to encounter.
Bear in mind that abbreviations are always under review. Some are recommended more than others, whereas others may become obsolete or recommended against. It also depends on a regional basis, too.
This is needed to maximize safety and minimize risks to the patient. Optimum pharmacy abbreviations are those that cause the least possible confusion.
| Abbreviation | From the Latin | Meaning |
| aa | ana | of each |
| ad | ad | up to |
| a.c. | ante cibum | before meals |
| a.d. | aurio dextra | right ear |
| ad lib. | ad libitum | use as much as one desires; freely |
| admov. | admove | apply |
| agit | agita | stir/shake |
| alt. h. | alternis horis | every other hour |
| a.m. | ante meridiem | morning, before noon |
| amp | ampule | |
| amt | amount | |
| aq | aqua | water |
| a.l., a.s. | aurio laeva, aurio sinister | left ear |
| A.T.C. | around the clock | |
| a.u. | auris utrae | both ears |
| bis | bis | twice |
| b.i.d. | bis in die | twice daily |
| B.M. | bowel movement | |
| bol. | bolus | as a large single dose (usually intravenously) |
| B.S. | blood sugar | |
| B.S.A | body surface areas | |
| cap., caps. | capsula | capsule |
| c | cum | with (usually written with a bar on top of the “c”) |
| cib. | cibos | food |
| cc | cum cibos | with food, (but also cubic centimetre) |
| cf | with food | |
| comp. | compound | |
| cr., crm | cream | |
| D5W | dextrose 5% solution (sometimes written as D 5 W) | |
| D5NS | dextrose 5% in normal saline (0.9%) | |
| D.A.W. | dispense as written | |
| dc, D/C, disc | discontinue | |
| dieb. alt. | diebus alternis | every other day |
| dil. | dilute | |
| disp. | dispense | |
| div. | divide | |
| d.t.d. | dentur tales doses | give of such doses |
| D.W. | distilled water | |
| elix. | elixir | |
| e.m.p. | ex modo prescripto | as directed |
| emuls. | emulsum | emulsion |
| et | et | and |
| ex aq | ex aqua | in water |
| fl., fld. | fluid | |
| ft. | fiat | make; let it be made |
| g | gram | |
| gr | grain | |
| gtt(s) | gutta(e) | drop(s) |
| H | hypodermic | |
| h, hr | hora | hour |
| h.s. | hora somni | at bedtime |
| ID | intradermal | |
| IM | intramuscular (with respect to injections) | |
| inj. | injectio | injection |
| IP | intraperitoneal | |
| IV | intravenous | |
| IVP | intravenous push | |
| IVPB | intravenous piggyback | |
| L.A.S. | label as such | |
| LCD | coal tar solution | |
| lin | linimentum | liniment |
| liq | liquor | solution |
| lot. | lotion | |
| M. | misce | mix |
| m, min | minimum | a minimum |
| mcg | microgram | |
| mEq | milliequivalent | |
| mg | milligram | |
| mist. | mistura | mix |
| mitte | mitte | send |
| mL | millilitre | |
| nebul | nebula | a spray |
| N.M.T. | not more than | |
| noct. | nocte | at night |
| non rep. | non repetatur | no repeats |
| NS | normal saline (0.9%) | |
| 1/2NS | half normal saline (0.45%) | |
| N.T.E. | not to exceed | |
| o_2 | both eyes, sometimes written as o 2 | |
| o.d. | oculus dexter | right eye |
| o.s. | oculus sinister | left eye |
| o.u. | oculus uterque | both eyes |
| oz | ounce | |
| per | per | by or through |
| p.c. | post cibum | after meals |
| p.m. | post meridiem | evening or afternoon |
| prn | pro re nata | as needed |
| p.o. | per os | by mouth or orally |
| p.r. | by rectum | |
| pulv. | pulvis | powder |
| q | quaque | every |
| q.a.d. | quoque alternis die | every other day |
| q.a.m. | quaque die ante meridiem | every day before noon |
| q.h. | quaque hora | every hour |
| q.h.s. | quaque hora somni | every night at bedtime |
| q.1h | quaque 1 hora | every 1 hour; (can replace “1” with other numbers) |
| q.d. | quaque die | every day |
| q.i.d. | quater in die | four times a day |
| q.o.d. | every other day | |
| qqh | quater quaque hora | every four hours |
| q.s. | quantum sufficiat | a sufficient quantity |
| R | rectal | |
| rep., rept. | repetatur | repeats |
| RL, R/L | Ringer’s lactate | |
| s | sine | without (usually written with a bar on top of the s) |
| s.a. | secundum artum | use your judgement |
| SC, subc, subq, subcut | subcutaneous | |
| sig | write on label | |
| SL | sublingually, under the tongue | |
| sol | solutio | solution |
| s.o.s., si op. sit | si opus sit | if there is a need |
| ss | semis | one half |
| stat | statim | immediately |
| supp | suppositorium | suppository |
| susp | suspension | |
| syr | syrupus | syrup |
| tab | tabella | tablet |
| tal., t | talus | such |
| tbsp | tablespoon | |
| troche | trochiscus | lozenge |
| tsp | teaspoon | |
| t.i.d. | ter in die | three times a day |
| t.d.s. | ter die sumendum | three times a day |
| t.i.w. | three times a week | |
| top. | topical | |
| T.P.N. | total parenteral nutrition | |
| tr, tinc., tinct. | tincture | |
| u.d., ut. dict. | ut dictum | as directed |
| ung. | unguentum | ointment |
| U.S.P. | United States Pharmacopoeia | |
| vag | vaginally | |
| w | with | |
| w/o | without | |
| X | times | |
| Y.O. | years old |
