This document defines common medical abbreviations used in prescriptions and provides information about prescription rules and quantities. It lists abbreviations for dosage frequencies, routes of administration, units of measurement, anatomical locations, and generic and brand names. It also outlines rules for prescription dates, refills, quantities, controlled substance limitations, and generic substitutions.

1. q - EVERY
qH - EVERY HOUR
qAM - EVERY MORNING
qPM - EVERY EVENING
qHS - EVERY BEDTIME
qD - EVERY DAY
qOD - EVERY OTHER DAY
qWK - EVERY WEEK
qMO - EVERY MONTH
q__° - EVERY___HOURS
q__H - EVERY___HOURS
BID - TWICE A DAY
TID - THREE A DAY
QID - FOUR A DAY
X_D - TIMES__DAYS
TDS - 3 TIMES A DAY
C - WITH
AC - BEFORE A MEAL
PC - AFTER A MEAL
HS - AT BEDTIME
PRN - AS NEEDED
UD - AS DIRECTED
AA - OF EACH
QS - QUANTITY SUFFICIENT
GTT - DROP
Sigs

2. TBSP - TABLESPOON
TSP - TEASPOON
OZ - OUNCE
GM - GRAM
KG - KILOGRAM
LB - POUND
ML - MILLILITER
L - LITER
G - GALLON
OD - RIGHT EYE
OS - LEFT EYE
OU - BOTH EYES
AD - RIGHT EAR
AS - LEFT EAR
AU - BOTH EARS

3. PO - BY MOUTH / ORAL
SL - SUB-LINGUAL
NG - NASO GASTRIC
BUCCAL - CHEEK/GUM
PR - RECTALLY
PV - VAGINALLY
SUPP - SUPPOSITORY
TAB - TABLET
CAP - CAPSULE
IM - INTRA MUSCULAR
SQ - SUB-CUTANEOUS
IV - INTRAVENOUS
IC - INTRA CARDIAC
INJ - INJECTION
STAT - IMMEDIATELY

4. Roman numerals
I 1 - One
V 5 - Five
X 10 - Ten
L 50 - Fifty
C 100 - One Hundred
D 500 - Five Hundred
M 1,000 - One
Thousand
SS 1/2 - Half
how old are you?
18=xviii
21=xxi
49=xLix
super bowl 45=?

5. quantity
how much of drug xyz? 2 tsp q6` x10d
2 tsp=10ml
every 6 hr = 4 doses every day
x10d=10days
10mlx4x10=400ml given

6. rx rules
• rx date----starts the clock for filling the rx
• CSA says no filling sch 3 4 5 controlled
substance(narcotic) drugs after 6 months on rx even
if refills not used up. need new rx.
• regular drugs state determines time limit(maybe a
year).
• refills----
• non CSA drug=no limit refills until expires
• sch 2 drugs---no refills but…..
• dr can write many rx.
• when it should be filled…’do not fill before may 1’.
• legitimate reason
• dr assumes pt not at risk
• state law approves
• never more than 90 day supply

7. rx rules
• sched 3 4 5 drugs
• if drug is controlled substance(narcotic) then 5
refills is maximum.
• but if pt wants less pills per visit then pharmacy
may keep refilling until 6 months or max
number of pills is given…ask pharmacist
• generic substitution---look for dispense as
written or no substitution