Medical Abbreviations Encountered By Pharmacist With Meaning

Medical abbreviation used in pharmacy can be complicating. They are so many and no single course subject was it taught. Many pharmacists have to learn it on the job.

Learning about medical abbreviation is one thing, understanding medical doctor writing is another. Most patients come to the pharmacy with a written prescription sheet. With the poorly written prescription, the patient is now at the mercy of the pharmacist to decode the writing.
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Pharmacists must learn medical abbreviations. However, patients can do well to grab the basics just for fun because your pharmacist will always be available to guide you in dosage.

Medical abbreviations covers so many aspects of prescription. From the name of the drug to the dosage form, dose, dose frequency, etc, the prescription needs an interpreter. Some of the abbreviations are meant for medical laboratory scientist to decode when carrying out laboratory test.

Reasons For Medical Abbreviation

Medical abbreviation serve two main purposes. It helps to conceal some important information from people who are not in the field and got their hands on a patient file.

Secondly, the use of medical abbreviations saves time and space. Patient medical record card are usually small. The use of these abbreviations reduce the space used for prescription and description. It always helps to save some time from writing words in full. This gives medical doctors time for other important things.

But there is a problem with medical abbreviations. Poorly written or wrong abbreviations or misinterpreted one can create room for medication error. For example, ATX can be misunderstood for zidovudine or azathioprine. Poorly written units of measurement can also create room for error. Writing μg can be misunderstood to mean mg. In fact, it is recommended to write out microgram. Using decimal place in figures can be confusing. 5.0 can be misinterpreted as 50 if the period is not very clear.

To reduce the above problem, medical abbreviations should be generally agreed upon in an establishment say a hospital using existing standards. The list should be developed by a representative of each health care team head of department. The medical abbreviations should not contain words that are similar or have slight difference. For example, tnl and tml are too close and can be confused for the other.

The use of a computer to type is better than handwritten prescription as the words will be very clear. The font should be readable. In a situation whereby it will be difficult to type, the handwritten should be eligible.

Rx abbreviation

Abbreviation And Meaning

A

aa...of each

AAA...apply to affected area

AB... abortion

abd... Abdomen

ABGs... Arterial blood gases

ABO...Three main blood types

AC...Air conduction

a.c...before meals (ante cibum)

Accom... Accommodation

ACh... Acetylcholine

AchE...Acetylcholinesterase

ACTH... Adrenocorticotropic hormone

ACDV... Arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease

a.d...right ear (auris dextra)

ad lib...as much as desired; freely (ad libitum)

ADH... Antidiuretic hormone

ADP... Adenosine diphosphate

AED...Antiepileptic drug

AF... Atrial fibrillation

AFB... Acid-fast bacillus

AHF...Antihemophilic factor

AI...Aortic insufficiency

AKA...Above-knee amputation

ALL...Acute lymphocytic leukaemia

ALP... Alkaline phosphatase

ALT... Alanine aminotransferase formerly SGPT

a.m...morning; before noon

AMA... against medical advice

amb... ambulation

AML... Acute myelocytic

AMP... Adenosine monophosphate

amp...ampule     

amt...amount   

ANA... antinuclear antibodies

Ant... anterior

AP... Anteroposterior and percussion

A&P...Auscultation and percussion

APAP...acetaminophen

APTT... Activated partial thromboplastin time

aq...water

AR... Assisted respiration

ara-C...Cytosine arabinoside

ARDS...Acute respiratory distress syndrome

AROM...Active range motion

a.s...left ear (aortic stenosis)

ASA... Acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin)

ASAP...As soon as possible

ASD... Atrial septal defect

ASH... Asymmetrical septal hypertrophy

ASHD... Arteriosclerotic heart disease

AST...Aspartate aminotransferase formerly SGOT

Astigm... Astigmatism

ASV...Anti-snake venom

ATC...around the clock

ATP... Adenosine triphosphate

Au...Gold

Ausc... Auscultation

a.u...both ears

A-V...Arteriovenous, atrioventricular

AVR... Aortic valve replacement

B

Ba...Barium

BaE... Barium eneme

BAL...Blood alcohol level

b.b.a...Born before arrival

BBB... Blood Brain Barrier

BC...Bone conduction

B-Cells...Lymphocytes produced in bone marrow

BCG...Bacillus Calmette-Guerin

BCNU...Bischoro Ethylnitrosourea

b.d... twice a day

bib...drink

b.i.d...twice a day (bis in die)

BM... bowel movement

BMR...Basal metabolic rate

BNF... British national formulary

BO... Blood pressure

BP...blood pressure

BPH... Benign prostatic hypertrophy

bpm...beats per minute

BS... blood sugar

BSP...bromsulphalein

BT... Bleeding time

bucc...inside cheek

BUN... Blood urine nitrogen

BZO...benzodiazepine

Bx...Biopsy

C

c...with (cum; often written with a bar above it)

C... Celsius (centigrade)

C-1, C-2... First, second cervical vertebrae

C.A...chronological age

Ca... Calcium, cancer

CAD...Coronary artery disease

cap...capsule

Cath...catheterization or catheterize

CBC, c.b.c...Complete blood count

cc...cubic centimeter (cm3)

CC...chief complaint

CD... controlled drug

Chem... Chemotherapy

CHF... Congestive heart failure

Chr... chronic

Ci... microcurie

Cigl... correction with glasses

CK...creatine clearance

Cl... chlorine

CLL... Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia     

cm...centimeter.    Also used as an abbreviation for cream

CMF...Cytoxan, methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil

CML... Chronic myelocytic leukaemia

CMV... Cytomegalovirus

CNS... Central nervous system

Co... Cobalt

CO2...carbon dioxide

℅...complains of

CONT... continuous

COP...Cytoxan, Oncovin, and Prednisone

COPD... Chronic obstructive coronary disease

CPAP... Continuous positive airway pressure

CPC... Clinicopathological conference

CPK...Creatine phosphokinase

CPR... Cardiopulmonary resuscitation

CPZ... Chlorpromazine

CrCl…Creatinine clearance

CRF... Chronic renal failure

CS...Caesarean section

C&S... culture and sensitivity

C-section...Caesarean section

CFS... Cerebrospinal fluid

ct... count

CV... cardiovascular

CVA...Cerebrovascular accident

CVP... Central venous pressure

CVP...Cytoxan, vincristine and Prednisone

CVS... Cardiovascular system

C/W...compare with

CXR...Chest X-ray

cyl... cylindrical lens

Cysto... Cystoscopy

D

d...day

D & C... Dilatation and curettage

DAW    dispense as written

DD... Discharge diagnosis 

d.c.; d/c...discontinue

decub... lying down

DES... Diethylstilbestrol

DI... Diabetes insipidus, diagnostic imaging

Diff... Differential count (white blood cell)     

dil...dilute

DIR INF... direct infusion 

disp...dispense     

div...divide     

dL...deciliter

DLE...Discoid lupus erythematosus

DM... Diabetes Melitus

DNA... Deoxyribonucleic acid

DOA...Dead on arrival

DOB... Date Of birth

DOE...Dyspepsia on exertion

dr...dram 

DR...delayed-release

dsg... dressing

DT's... Delirium tremens

DTR...Deep tendon reflexes

D5W...5% glucose in distilled water

Dx... Diagnosis

E

e... Without

EBV... Epstein Barr Virus

EC...enteric-coated

ECF... Extended care facility

ECG…(EKG) Electrocardiogram

EDC... Expected date of confinement

EDD... Expected date of delivery

EDL... Essential drug list

EDTA... ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid

EEG... Electroencephalogram

EENT...ear, eyes, nose and throat

EM... Electron microscope

EM...emmetropia

Emdex... Essential Medicine Index

EMG... Electromyogram

ENT...ear, nose and throat

EOD...every other day

 eos... Eosinophils

EPS...Extrapyramidal symptoms

ER... emergency room, estrogen receptor; Also ER; XR...extended-release

ESR... Erythrocyte sedimentation rate 

et...and

ETF...Eustachian tube function

EUA... Examination under anesthesia

Exc... Excision

F

F...Fahrenheit

Fb... Fingerbreadth

FBC...Full blood count

FBS... fasting blood sugar

f-c...Film coated

FDA...Food and drug administration

Fe...iron

FH... family history

fl...fluid

Flo2...inspired oxygen concentration

FSH... follicle stimulating hormone

ft., f.,...make; let it be made

FTA-ABS... Fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption test

F/u...follow up

5-Fu...5-fluorouracil

FUO...fever of undermine origin

fx... fracture

FXD...for 10 days X = Roman numeral for 10

G

g, gm...gram

Ga... Gallium

GABA...Y-amino butyric acid

gal...gallon

GB...gallbladder

GC... gonorrhoea

GFR... Glomerular filtration rate

GH... growth hormone

GI... Gastrointestinal

gr….grain (s)

Grab, 123... First, second and third pregnancy

GTT... Glucose intolerance test     

gtt...drop (gutta)

GU... Genitourinary

Gyn... Gynecology

H

h., hr., hor...hour

H... Hydrogen; hypodermically

Hb, Hbg... Haemoglobin

H & H... hematocrit and hemoglobin

HbIG...Human chorionic gonadotropin

HCT (Hct)... hematocrit

HCT; HCTZ...hydrochlorothiazide   

HD... Hearing distance

HD... Hodgkin's disease

h.d...At bedtime (hora decubitus)

HDCV...Human diploid cell rabies vaccine

HDL...High density lipoproteins

He... Helium

Hg... Mercury

Hgb... hemoglobin

hGH...Human growth hormone

5-HIAA...5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid

h/o... History of

H2O... water

HOB...head of bed

HR... heart rate

h.p.f...High power field (microscope)

HR... heart rate

h.s...at bedtime (“at the hour of sleep”)

HSG... Hysterosalpingography

h-s- mega... Hepatosplenomegaly

HVD... Hypersensitive vascular disease

HVS.. High vagina swab

hx... history

I

I... iodine

IADH...Inappropriate Antidiuretic hormone

ICP... Intracranial pressure

ICU... Intensive care unit

ID...intradermal

IgA, IgD, IgG... Immunoglobulins

IM...intramuscular

IN...intranasal

inf ...infusion, inferior

inh ...inhalation, isoniazid

inj….injection

I&O...intake and output

INT... intermittent

I.O.P...intraocular pressure

IPPB... Intermittent positive-pressure breathing

IPTp... intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy

I.Q...Intelligence quotient

ITP... idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura

IR...immediate-release

IU...international unit

IUCD... Intrauterine contraceptive

IUD...Intrauterine device, Intrauterine death

IV...intravenous

IVAC... Intravenous controller

IVP... Intravenous pyelogram

IVPB... Intravenous piggy bank

K...potassium     

kg...kilogram

KUD... Kidney, Ureter and bladder

L...liter, left, lower

L-1, L-2... first, second lumbar vertebrae

LA...Left Atrium

Lap... Laparotomy

LAT (lat)... lateral

LB... Large bowel

lb...pound

LBW...Low birth weight

LCM...Low costal margin

LD (LDH)... Lactic dehydrogenase

LDL...Low density lipoprotein

LE... Lupus erythematosus

LFT...Liver function test

LH...luteinizing hormone

liq…. liquid

LLL...Left lower lobe

LLQ... left lower quadrant (abdomen)

LMP...Last menstrual period

LN, InLymph node

LOC...Loss of consciousness

lot….lotion

LP... Lumbar puncture

l.p.f...lower power field

LR...lactated ringer's solution

LSD...Lysergic acid diethylamide

LSK...Liver, spleen and kidneys

LTH... Prolactin

LUL...Lower upper love (lungs)

LUQ...Left upper quadrant (Abdomen)

LV...Left ventricle

L&W... Living and we'll

lymph... Lymphocyte

M

m...meter, minim

M... Monocytes

m2... square meter

MAC...Monitored anaesthesia care

M.A...Mental age

MAOI... Monoamine oxidase inhibitor

MAP...Mean Arterial pressure

max….maximum

mc...Millicure (dose of radiation)

MCA... Motorcycle accident

MCH...Mean corpuscular haemoglobin

mCi...Millicurie

MCL...Midclavicular line

MCV...Mean corpuscular volume

M/C/S...Microscopy, culture and sensitivity

mEq/L... Milliequivalent per litre

Mets...Metastases

mg... milligram

mcg... micrograms

MDP...Medrol Dosepak (Pre-dosed packaging of methylprednisolone (Medrol)

MH... Marital history

MI... Myocardial infarction, mitral insufficiency

min... Minute

most... Mixture

ml... Milliliter

mm... Millimeter

mm Hg... Millimeter of Mercury

mg...milligram     

min….minimum     

neb...nebulizer

mo... months

6-MP...6-mercaptopurine

MPD... Maximum permissible dose

mRNA... Messenger RNA

MS...Mitral stenosis, multiple sclerosis, morphine sulphate

MSL...Midsternal line

MTX... Methotrexate

MVA...motor vehicle accident

MVP...Mitral valve replacement

Myop...Myopia

N

N... Nitrogen, Node, Normal 

Na... sodium

NANB...NON-A, NON-B hepatitis

NB.. Newborn

NBS... Normal bowel or breath sound

NC...Nasal cannula

NED...No evidence of disease

Neg... Negative

NERD...No evidence of recurrent disease

N.F...National formulary

NG...Nasogastric tube

NKA...no known allergies

NMDA...N-methyl-D-aspartate

noc... night

NOS...not otherwise specified

NPDL...Nodular, poorly differentiated lymphocytes

NPI... National programme on immunization

NPO... Nothing by mouth

NS... normal saline

NSAID...nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug

NTP...Normal temperature and pressure

NV... neurovascular

O

O2... oxygen

OB... Obstetrics

OB...Organic brain syndrome

OCG...Oral cholecystogram

o.d...right eye

ODT...oral disintegrating tablet   

17-OH...17-Hydroxycorticosteroids

oint...ointment

OOB...out of bed

OR... Operating room

ORIF...open reduction, internal fixation

os... mouth

OS...Left eye

OT...Old tuberculin, occupational therapy

 OTC...Over the counter

Oto... Otology

OU...Each eye

OV...office visit

oz...ounce

P

P... phosphorus, pulse

p...after

P56...plasma-lyte 56

PA...prior authorization, posteroanterior

P&A... percussion and auscultation

PAC... Premature atrial contractions

PaCO2... Arterial carbon dioxide tension (pressure)

Palp... palpable, palpation

PaO2... Arterial oxygen tension (pressure)

Pap smear...papanicolaou smear

Para 1, 2, 3...Unipara, bipara, tripara (number of viable births)

PAT...paroxysmal atrial tachycardia

Path... pathology

PA view...posteroanterior view(x-ray position)

PBI... Protein-bound iodine

pc...after meals

PCN... penicillin

PCO2... carbon dioxide pressure

PCOS... Polycystic ovarian syndrome

PCV... packed cell volume

PCWP... pulmonary capillary wedge pressure

PFA... patent ductus arteriosus

PDR... physician's desk reference

PE... physical examination

PEEP... Positive and expiratory pressure

PE tube... Ventilating tube for eardrum

PEG...Pneumoencephalography

PERRL... pupils equal, round, react to light and accommodation

PFT... Pulmonary function test

PG... Prostaglandin

PH... Hydrogen ion concentration

PID... Pelvic inflammatory disease

PKU... phenylketonuria

Plts...Platelets

PM... post mortem, Petit Mal, afternoon

PMI... Point of maximum impulse

PMN... polymorphonuclear leukocytes

PMT... premenstrual tension

PND...paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnoea

p.m...evening; after noon

p.o...by mouth; orally

p/o... postoperative

Posto... postoperative

PO2... oxygen pressure

Polys... polymorphonuclear leukocytes

POM... prescription only medicine

POMP... Prednisone, Oncovin, Methotrexate, and 6-mercaptopurine

Post... positive

post... postoperatively

PP... Postprandial (after meals)

PPD...Purified protein derivatives

Pre-op... preoperative

Prep... preparation

PRL... prolactin

p.r…rectally

p.r.n...as needed (for)

Pro-tim... Prothrombin test

PSP...Phenolsulfonphthalein

PT... Prothrombin time, physical therapy

pt... patient

PTA...prior to admission

PTH... parathyroid hormone

PTT…partial thromboplastin time   

pt...pint

PU... pregnancy urine

PUD...peptic ulcer disease

PUO... Pyrexia of undetermined origin

p.v….vaginally

PVC... premature ventricular contractions

pwd... powder

q...every; per

q12; q. 12 h.; q12°...every 12 hours (12 can be substituted with any number)

q1-2; q. 1-2 h.; q1-2°...every 1 to 2 hours (1 and 2 can be substituted with any number)

q.a.d.; q.o.d ...every other day

q.a.m ...every morning; every day before noon

q.d ...every day

q.h.s...every day at bedtime

q.i.d...4 times a day

qt...quart     

qty….quantity     

q.p.m...every evening; every day after noon

q.n.s...quantity not sufficient

q.s ...a sufficient quantity

q.w ...every week

R

R...Respirations, rectal

r... right

Ra... Radium

rad... Radiation absorbed dose

RAI... Radioactive iodine

RAIU... Radioactive iodine uptake

Ratx... Radiation therapy

RBC...red blood cell, red blood count

RCM... Right costal margin

RECT... Rectal

REM... Rapid eye movement

RF... Rheumatoid factor

Rh...Rhesus factor in blood

RIA... Radioimmunoassay

RLL... Right lower lobe (lung)

RLQ... Right lower quadrant (abdomen)

RNA... Ribonucleic acid

R/O...Rule out

ROM...Range of motion

ROS... Review of systems

RP... Retrograde pyelogram

RT... Radiation therapy

RTI... Respiratory tract infection

RUQ... Right upper quadrant (abdomen)

RV... Right ventricle

Rx...prescription, treatment, therapy

S

s ...without

S-1, S-2... First, second sacral vertebra

SA...Sinoatrial

SAN... Sinoatrial node

SBE... Subacute bacterial endocarditis

SBFT...Small bowel follow-through (x-ray study)

SC... Subcutaneous

S-C...sugar coated

Sed-rate... Sedimentation rate

s,gl... without correction (glasses)

SGOT...Serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase

SH...Serum hepatitis

SC; SQ; SubQ    subcutaneous     

sig...write; label

SIML... synchronous intermittent mandatory ventilation

SL; s.l ...sublingually; under the tongue     

SLE... Systemic lupus erythematosus

SOB...shortness of breath     

sol...solution

SOS...When necessary

S/P...status post

sp.gr...specific gravity

SPE...Serum protein electrophoresis

SR... Sedimentation rate

Sr... Strontium

S/r... Sustained release

ss...one half

st ...Stage (of disease)

Staph... Staphylococcus

SSRI...selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor

stat….immediately

STH...Somatotropin (growth) hormone

Strep... Streptococcus

S.T.S...Serological test for syphilis

Subcu... Subcutaneous

surg... surgical

supp...suppository

susp...suspension

SV-40...Simian vacuolating virus

SVC... superior vena cava

Sx... symptoms     

syr...syrup

T

T. Temperature

T-1 T-2... First, second thoracic vertebra

T3...Triodothyroxine

T4...Thyroxine

T&A... Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy

tab...tablet

TAD...take as directed   

TAH...Total abdominal hysterectomy

TAT... Thematic Apperception test

TB, tbc... Tuberculosis

TBI... Total-body irradiation     

tbsp...tablespoon

Tc... Technetium

T-cell... lymphocytes produced in the thymus gland

Temp... Temperature

TIA... Transient ischemic attack

t.i.d...3 times a day

tinc... tincture

TBI...total nodal irradiation

TNM... Tumor, nodes and Metastases

tomos...Tomograms

TOP... Termination of pregnancy

top ...topical

TPI... Treponema pallidum immobilization

TPN...Total parenteral nutrition

TPR... Temperature, pulse and respiration

TSH... Thyroid-stimulating hormone

troch...lozenge

tsp...teaspoon

TT...Thrombin time

TUR... Transurethral resection

Tx... Treatment

U

U...unit

UA... Urinalysis

UC... Uterine contractions

u.d., ut. dict ...as directed

UGI... upper gastrointestinal series

ULN... Upper limit of normal

ung...ointment

umb...Navel (umbilicus)

Ur... Urine

URI...Upper respiratory infection

Urol... Urology

u/s... ultrasound

U.S.P...United States pharmacopoeia

UTI... Urinary tract infection

UV... ultraviolet
Read Also: Meaning of pharmacist oath during induction

V

VA...Visual acuity

Vag... vaginal

VCU... Voiding cystourethrogram

VD...General disease

VDRL...Venereal disease research laboratory

VF... Visual field

VL...Very low density lipoproteins

VMA...vanillylmandelic acid

VO... verbal order

vol... Volume

VS...Vital signs

W

w...with

WBC...white blood count, White blood cell

W-E...Wide excision

w/f...with food; with meals

WFI... Water for injection

wk...Week

w/n...Well nourished

WMF...WHO (World Health Organisation) Model Formulary

WNL... Within normal limits

w/o...without

wt... weight

Y

y/o... Year of birth

yr...Year

>... greater than

<...less than

=...equal to

≠...not equal to

↑... increase

↓... decrease

20... secondary

°...degree

%... percent

@...at

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