This document defines common abbreviations used in medication orders and prescriptions. It provides the meaning of abbreviations for things like dosage frequency (b.i.d., t.i.d.), routes of administration (p.o., I.M., I.V.), parts of a prescription, and practice exercises interpreting medication orders using these abbreviations. It aims to help with properly interpreting prescriptions and medication orders.

1. Abbreviation ofAbbreviation of
Medication Order andMedication Order and
their meaningstheir meanings
By fagoson.By fagoson.

2. Interpretation Of the PrescriptionInterpretation Of the Prescription
or Medication orderor Medication order
 Abbreviations commonly used inAbbreviations commonly used in
prescriptions and Medication ordersprescriptions and Medication orders
AbbreviationAbbreviation MeaningMeaning
a.ca.c before mealsbefore meals
adad up toup to
a.d.a.d. Right earRight ear
ad lib.ad lib. at pleasure, freelyat pleasure, freely
a.m.a.m. morningmorning
amp.amp. AmpulAmpul
aq.aq. waterwater

3. Abbreviations commonly used inAbbreviations commonly used in
prescriptions and Medication ordersprescriptions and Medication orders
AbbreviationAbbreviation MeaningMeaning
a.s.a.s. left earleft ear
a.ua.u each eareach ear
b.i.db.i.d twice a daytwice a day
BSABSA body surface areabody surface area
c.c. withwith
cap.cap. CapsuleCapsule
cc. or cccc. or cc cubic centimetercubic centimeter
dil.dil. DiluteDilute
disc. or D.Cdisc. or D.C discontinuediscontinue

4. AbbreviationAbbreviation MeaningMeaning
disp.disp. DispenseDispense
div.div. DivideDivide
d.t.d.d.t.d. Give of such doseGive of such dose
DWDW distilled waterdistilled water
DD55WW dextrose 5% in waterdextrose 5% in water
elix.elix. ElixirElixir
e.m.pe.m.p as directedas directed
etet andand
p.op.o by mouthby mouth
p.r.np.r.n when requiredwhen required

5. AbbreviationAbbreviation MeaningMeaning
q.d.q.d. Every dayEvery day
q.h.q.h. Every hourEvery hour
q.i.d.q.i.d. four times a dayfour times a day
q.o.d.q.o.d. Every other dayEvery other day
q.s.q.s. A sufficient quantityA sufficient quantity
q.s. adq.s. ad a sufficient quantity toa sufficient quantity to
makemake
RR rectalrectal
s.s. withoutwithout

6. AbbreviationAbbreviation MeaningMeaning
Sig.Sig. Write on labelWrite on label
Sol.Sol. SolutionSolution
s.o.ss.o.s if there is needif there is need
ss. Or ssss. Or ss one halfone half
Stat.Stat. immediatelyimmediately
Subc. Or subq or s.c.Subc. Or subq or s.c. SubcutaneouslySubcutaneously
Sup.Sup. SuppositorySuppository
Susp.Susp. SuspensionSuspension
Syr.Syr. SyrupSyrup
Tab.Tab. tablettablet

7. AbbreviationAbbreviation MeaningMeaning
Tbsp.Tbsp. TablespoonfulTablespoonful
T.i.d.T.i.d. Three times a dayThree times a day
Tr.Tr. TinctureTincture
Tsp.Tsp. TeaspoonfulTeaspoonful
U or uU or u unitunit
u.d.u.d. As directedAs directed
Ung.Ung. OintmentOintment
U.S.PU.S.P United States pharmacopoeiaUnited States pharmacopoeia
Ex aq.Ex aq. In waterIn water

8. AbbreviationAbbreviation MeaningMeaning
MeaningMeaning
fl or fidfl or fid fluidfluid
ft.ft. MakeMake
g. Or Gm. Or gg. Or Gm. Or g gramgram
Gtt.Gtt. DropDrop
HH hypodermichypodermic
h. Or hr.h. Or hr. HourHour
h.s.h.s. At bedtimeAt bedtime
IMIM IntramuscularIntramuscular
Inj.Inj. InjectionInjection

9. AbbreviationAbbreviation MeaningMeaning
IvIv intravenousintravenous
MM mixmix
mm22
or Mor M square metersquare meter
mcg. Or mcgmcg. Or mcg microgrammicrogram
mEqmEq milliequivalentmilliequivalent
mgmg MilligramMilligram
mlml MilliliterMilliliter
N&VN&V Nausea & vomitingNausea & vomiting
N.F.N.F. National FormularyNational Formulary
Noct.Noct. NightNight

10. AbbreviationAbbreviation MeaningMeaning
Non rep.Non rep. Do not repeatDo not repeat
NPONPO nothing by mouthnothing by mouth
N.S. or NS or N/SN.S. or NS or N/S normal salinenormal saline
½ NS½ NS half strength normal salinehalf strength normal saline
o.d.o.d. Right eyeRight eye
o.l.o.l. Left eyeLeft eye
o.s.o.s. Left eyeLeft eye
o.u.o.u. Each eyeEach eye
p.c.p.c. After mealsAfter meals

11. INTERPRETATION OF THE PRESCRIPTININTERPRETATION OF THE PRESCRIPTIN
OR MEDICATION ORDEROR MEDICATION ORDER
Practice ExercisesPractice Exercises
1.1. Interpret each of the following SubscriptionsInterpret each of the following Subscriptions
( direction to the pharmacist) taken from( direction to the pharmacist) taken from
prescriptionsprescriptions::
a)a) Disp. sup. Rect. no. xiiDisp. sup. Rect. no. xii
b)b) M.ft. isoton. sol.disp. 10mlM.ft. isoton. sol.disp. 10ml
c)c) M. et div. in pulv. no. xM. et div. in pulv. no. x

12. e) M.et ft.ung. Disp. 10ge) M.et ft.ung. Disp. 10g
f) M. et ft .sol. DTD xlviif) M. et ft .sol. DTD xlvii
g) M.et ft. sol. 1g/tbsp.g) M.et ft. sol. 1g/tbsp.
h) Ft.cap#1.Disp.tal.no.xvi. N.Rh) Ft.cap#1.Disp.tal.no.xvi. N.R
i) M. et ft. pulv. Div. in dos.xiiii) M. et ft. pulv. Div. in dos.xiii
j) M.et ft. inj. For I.V. use.j) M.et ft. inj. For I.V. use.

13. 2. Interpret each of the following Subscriptions2. Interpret each of the following Subscriptions
( direction to the pharmacist) taken from( direction to the pharmacist) taken from
prescriptionsprescriptions::
a)a) Gtt. ii o.u. q.4h.p.r.n.painGtt. ii o.u. q.4h.p.r.n.pain
b)b) Thsp.i in gl.aq.q.6h.Thsp.i in gl.aq.q.6h.
c)c) Appl. Am& pm for p[ain e.m.pAppl. Am& pm for p[ain e.m.p
d)d) Gtt.iv a.d.m.&n.Gtt.iv a.d.m.&n.
e)e) Tsp. I ex aq.q.4 or 5h.p.r.n.painTsp. I ex aq.q.4 or 5h.p.r.n.pain
f)f) Appi.ung.o.s.ad libAppi.ung.o.s.ad lib
g)g) Caps I aq.h.s. N.R.Caps I aq.h.s. N.R.
h)h) Gtt v a.u.3x d.S.O.SGtt v a.u.3x d.S.O.S

14. 3. Interpret each of the following taken from3. Interpret each of the following taken from
medication orders.medication orders.
a)a) Secobarbital sodium gr iss p.o.q.d.h.s.Secobarbital sodium gr iss p.o.q.d.h.s.
repeat s.o.srepeat s.o.s
b)b) Prochlorperazine 10 rng IM q.3h. Pm N&VProchlorperazine 10 rng IM q.3h. Pm N&V
c)c) Minocycline HC1 susp. 1tsp p.o.q.i.d disq afterMinocycline HC1 susp. 1tsp p.o.q.i.d disq after
5 d.5 d.
d)d) Propranolol HC1 10 mg p.o.t.i.d.a.c & h.s.Propranolol HC1 10 mg p.o.t.i.d.a.c & h.s.
e)e) NPH U-100 insulin 40 U subc q.d. A.M.NPH U-100 insulin 40 U subc q.d. A.M.
f)f) Cefarnandole nafate 250mg IM q. 12 h.Cefarnandole nafate 250mg IM q. 12 h.
g)g) Potassium chloride 15 rnEq p.o. b.i.d.p.c.Potassium chloride 15 rnEq p.o. b.i.d.p.c.
h)h) Vincristine sulfate 2 mg/rnVincristine sulfate 2 mg/rn22
BSABSA

15. PRESCRIPTIONPRESCRIPTION
Part of Prescription:-Part of Prescription:-
1)1) prescriber’s information-----prescriber’s information-----
(Name, address, phone no., signature)(Name, address, phone no., signature)
2)Patient’s information----2)Patient’s information----
(Name, address, age , weight etc.)(Name, address, age , weight etc.)
3)Date of prescription3)Date of prescription
4)Superscription------4)Superscription------
Symbol ( Take thou, you take, recipe)Symbol ( Take thou, you take, recipe)
5)Inscription--- medication prescribed5)Inscription--- medication prescribed
6)Subscription----- dispensing information to the6)Subscription----- dispensing information to the
pharmacistpharmacist

16. 7) Signa------ Directions to the patients7) Signa------ Directions to the patients
8) Special Instructions8) Special Instructions
Medication scheduling and patientMedication scheduling and patient
compliancecompliance