Common Medical Abbreviations

Common Medical Abbreviations

COMMON MEDICAL ABBREVIATIONS
aa of each ABG arterial blood gas ac before meals ACE angiotensin converting enzyme AD right ear ad lib as desired ADR adverse drug reaction AF, AFib atrial fibrillation AM morning; before noon AMA against medical advice AMI acute myocardial infarction ANDA Abbreviated New Drug Application ante before APAP acetaminophen aq water; aqueous AS left ear ASA aspirin AU both ears AUC area under the curve bid, BID twice a day biw twice weekly BMI body mass index BP blood pressure BUN blood urea nitrogen c with (c with bar above it) C Centigrade Ca calcium cap(s) capsule(s) cath catheter CBC complete blood count cc cubic centimeter CHF congestive heart failure Cl chloride cm centimeter Cmax maximum effective plasma concentration Cmin minimum effective plasma concentration c/o complains of comp compounded of CR controlled-release CV cardiovascular DAW dispense as written d/c discontinue DC discharge DNR do not resuscitate DR delayed-release Dx diagnosis ECG, EKG electrocardiogram ED emergency department EENT Eye, Ear, Nose & Throat ER extended-release etc and so on EtOH alcohol exp expired ext extract, external F Fahrenheit	FBS fasting blood sugar FUO fever of unknown origin Fe iron fl fluid fl dr fluidram fl oz fluid ounce Fx fracture g, gm gram gr grain gtt(s) drop(s) H, h, hr hour H2O water HDL-C high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol HR heart rate HRT hormone replacement therapy hs at bedtime, hour of sleep h/o history of IM intramuscular INDA Investigational New Drug Application inh inhalation INH isoniazid inj injection IPPB intermittent positive pressure breathing IR immediate-release IU international units IV intravenous kg kilogram L liter, left, put left first lb pound LDL-C low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol liq liquid MAOI monoamine oxidase inhibitor mcg microgram MDI metered dose inhaler mEq milliequivalent mg milligram mL milliliter mm millimeter MOM milk of magnesia MRSA methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus Na sodium NaCl sodium chloride NDA New Drug Application neg negative NKA no known allergies NPO nothing by mouth NR no refill NSAID nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug OD right eye oint ointment OS left eye OTC over the counter OU each eye	oz ounce P pulse pc after meals per by PI Package Insert PM evening; after noon po by mouth; orally prn as needed; whenever necessary pt patient, pint pwdr powder q every q4h every 4 hours q6h every 6 hours qh, qhr every hour qid four times per day qiw four times per week ql as much as desired qs a sufficient quantity qt quart qw once per week R/O rule out Rx prescription only SC, SQ subcutaneously sig label; let it be printed SL sublingual SOB shortness of breath sos if necessary or required s/s signs and symptoms ss one half stat immediately supp suppository susp suspension Sx symptoms t½ half life tab(s) tablets tbsp tablespoonful temp temperature tid three times per day tiw three times per week Tmax time to maximum concentration TPN total parenteral nutrition tr, tinc, tinct tincture tsp teaspoonful Tx treatment ud as directed UD unit-dose package ung ointment URI upper respiratory infection USP United States Pharmacopoeia UTI urinary tract infection vag vaginal vol volume VS vital signs wt weight x times
(Rev. 10/2023)