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Abbreviations
Pharmacology
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| ā | before |
| a.c. | before meals |
| ASA | aspirin AKA acetylsalicylic acid |
| ad lib | as desired |
| APAP | acetaminophen |
| A.D. {AD} | right ear or Alzheimer’s disease |
| A.S. {AS | left ear |
| A.U. {AU} | both ears |
| B.I.D. or b.i.d. or bid | twice a day |
| c | with |
| cap(s) | capsule(s) or caplet(s) |
| comp. | compound |
| CR or C-R | controlled release |
| D (Zyrtec D) | decongestant |
| D/C | discontinue or discharge |
| DR | drug resistant |
| D.S. or DS | double strength |
| elix. | elixir |
| h or hr | hour |
| hour is also written as a | degree sign |
| {h.s.} | hours of sleep (bedtime) |
| {h.s.} is usually at | 2200 hours (10:00 pm) |
| HTN | hypertension |
| IB | ibuprofen |
| IND | investigational new drug |
| INJ or inj | injection |
| K | potassium |
| KCl | potassium chloride |
| K or KCl is commonly measured in | milliequivalents (mEq.). |
| LA or L.A. or L-A | long acting |
| liq. | liquid |
| MDR | multidrug resistant or minimum daily requirements |
| MN | midnight |
| {MS} | morphine sulfate or multiple sclerosis or magnesium sulfate |
| MSO4 | morphine sulfate |
| MgSO4 | magnesium sulfate |
| NIH | National Institutes of Health |
| NKA | no known allergies |
| NKDA | no known drug allergies |
| NPO or n.p.o. | nothing by mouth |
| NR | no refills |
| NS or NSS | normal saline solution |
| NS or NSS is AKA | 0.9% sodium chloride (NaCl). |
| O.D. {OD} | right eye or overdose |
| O.S. {OS} | left eye |
| O.U. {OU} | both eyes |
| OTC or otc | over the counter |
| - P | after |
| p.c. or pc | after meals |
| Pt {pt} | patient |
| PCN | penicillin |
| PCA | patient controlled analgesia |
| PR | per rectum |
| PRN or p.r.n | as needed (whenever necessary) |
| q | every |
| Q.D. or q.d. {qd} | every day |
| q.h. or qh | every hour |
| q.2.h. or q2h | every two hours |
| Q.I.D. or q.i.d. | four times a day |
| Q.O.D. or q.o.d | every other day |
| RDA | recommended daily allowance |
| RFs | refills |
| RPh | registered pharmacist |
| - S | without |
| SA | sustained action |
| SPF | sun protection factor |
| SR | slow release |
| ss | one half or sliding scale (insulin) |
| stat. | now |
| syp. | syrup |
| supp. | suppository |
| tab or tabs | tablet(s) |
| TPN | total parenteral nutrition |
| TPN is AKA | hyperalimentation (“hyperal”). |
| UD | unit dose |
| ung. or oint. | ointment |
| WHO | World Health Organization |
| WNL | within normal limits |
| w/o | without |
| XR | extended release |
| > | greater than |
| < | less than |