This page is dedicated to providing pharmacists, healthcare professionals, and students with a complete reference for common pharmacy abbreviations used in prescriptions and medical documentation. Understanding these abbreviations is crucial for accurate communication and safe medication administration.
Common Abbreviations In Pharmacology
A
Abbreviation
Meaning
a.c.
before food
a.m.
before noon
aa.
of each
ad lib.
as much as desired
alt.
alternate
alt. die.
alternate days
amp
ampoule
ante
before
applic.
apply
aq. or aqua
water
aur.
ear
aurist.
ear drops
B
Abbreviation
Meaning
b.
twice
b.d.
twice daily
b.i.d.
twice daily
C
Abbreviation
Meaning
c.
with
calid.
warm
cap.
capsule
cib.
food
co.
compound
collut.
mouthwash
collyr.
eye lotion
conc.
concentrated
crem.
cream
D
Abbreviation
Meaning
d.
a day
dest.
distilled
dil.
diluted
div.
divide
dol.urg
when the pain is severe
dolent.part.
to the afflicted part
dos.
dose
E
Abbreviation
Meaning
ex aq.
in water
ext.
extract
extemp.
extemporaneously dispensed
F
Abbreviation
Meaning
fort.
strong
G
Abbreviation
Meaning
garg.
gargle
gtt. or guttae
drops
H
Abbreviation
Meaning
h.
at the hour of
h.s.
at bedtime
I
Abbreviation
Meaning
i.c.
between meals
IM
intramuscular
inf
infusion
inj
injection
IV
intravenous
M
Abbreviation
Meaning
m. or mane
in the morning
m.d.
as directed
m.d.u.
to be used as directed
MDI
metered dose inhaler
mist.
mixture
mitt. or mitte
send
N
Abbreviation
Meaning
n. or nocte
at night
n.et m.
night and morning
narist.
nasal drops
NP or n.p.
proper name
O
Abbreviation
Meaning
o.alt.hor.
every other hour
o.d.
every day
o.m.
every morning
o.n.
every night
oculent.
eye ointment
P
Abbreviation
Meaning
p.a.
to the affected part
p.aeq.
equal parts
p.c.
after food
p.m.
afternoon
p.r.n.
when required
part. dolent.
to the painful part
past.
paste
PR
per rectum
pulv.
powder
PV
per vagina
Q
Abbreviation
Meaning
q.d.
every day
q.d.s.
four times daily
q.i.d.
four times daily
q.q.h.
every fourth hour
q.s.
sufficient
q12h
every 12 hours
q4h
every 4 hours
q6h
every 6 hours
qq.
every
R
Abbreviation
Meaning
Rx
take
S
Abbreviation
Meaning
s.o.s.
if necessary
SC
subcutaneous
SL
sublingual
ss.
half
stat.
immediately
T
Abbreviation
Meaning
t.d.d.
three times daily
t.d.s.
to be taken three times daily
t.i.d.
three times daily
tinct.
tincture
trit. or triturate
serial dilution or mixing ingredients
U
Abbreviation
Meaning
u.a.
as before
ung. or unguentum
ointment
ut. direct or ut. dict.
as directed
W
Abbreviation
Meaning
WSP
white soft paraffin
Y
Abbreviation
Meaning
YSP
yellow soft paraffin
What Are Pharmacy Abbreviations?
Pharmacy abbreviations are shorthand notations used by healthcare professionals to simplify and expedite the documentation and communication of medical information. These abbreviations are commonly found on prescriptions, medication labels, and medical records. They help ensure that instructions for medication use are clear and concise.
Why Are Pharmacy Abbreviations Important?
Pharmacy abbreviations are vital for several reasons:
Efficiency: They save time by allowing healthcare professionals to write quickly and clearly.
Clarity: Standardized abbreviations reduce the risk of misinterpretation.
Space-saving: Abbreviations help fit more information into limited space on prescription forms and labels.
Universal Understanding: Widely recognized abbreviations ensure that instructions are understood across different regions and healthcare settings.
How to Use This Pharmacy Abbreviations Guide
This guide can be used as a quick reference for common pharmacy abbreviations encountered in daily practice. Bookmark this page or print it out for easy access whenever you need to decode a prescription or understand medical instructions.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What does ‘b.i.d.’ mean in a prescription?
‘b.i.d.’ stands for ‘bis in die,’ which means ‘twice daily’ in Latin.
2. How is ‘t.i.d.’ different from ‘q.i.d.’?
‘t.i.d.’ means ‘three times daily,’ while ‘q.i.d.’ means ‘four times daily.’
3. Why are pharmacy abbreviations used?
Pharmacy abbreviations are used to save time, reduce space, and ensure clarity and efficiency in medical communication.
4. What does ‘p.r.n.’ indicate in medication instructions?
‘p.r.n.’ stands for ‘pro re nata,’ meaning ‘when required’ or ‘as needed.’
5. How do I remember all these abbreviations?
Regular use and practice are key. Many healthcare professionals use flashcards or reference guides until they become familiar with the abbreviations.
