freely, as desired

before meals

āā.

of each

b.i.d.

B.I.D.

twice a day

caps.

capsule(s)

elix.

elixir

ext.

extract

gr

grain

gtt

drop(S)

H.S.

h.s.

at bedtime

hour of sleep

ID

intradermal

IM

intramuscularly

inj.

injection

IV/ i.v.

Intravenously

IVPB

intravenous piggyback

kvo

keep vein open

mEq

milliequivalents

NGT

nasogastric tube

O.D.

in the right eye

OCTOR

on call to operating room

O.S.

in the left eye

o.d.

every day/once a day

o.u.

both eyes

¯p

after

p.c.

after meals

p.o.

by mouth

p.r.n

P.R.N

as the occasion arises

when needed or requested

q

every

q.h.

every hour

q2h

every 2 hrs

q.s.

a sufficient quantity

q.i.d.

4 times a day

‾s

without

s.c.

S.C.

sub q

subcutaneously

S.L.

sublingually

sol.

solution

¯ss

one-half

stat

immediately

susp.

suspension

t.i.d.

T.I.D.

3 times a day

TPN

total parenteral nutrition

tr.

tincture

DO NOT USE U(UNIT)

Write "unit"

DO NOT USE "IU"

Write "international unit"

DO NOT USE "MS"

"MSO₄ " or "MgSO₄ "

write "morphine sulfate" or "magnesium sulfate"

DO NOT USE Q.D/QD/Q.O.D./QOD/qd/qod

write "daily" or "every other day"

DO NOT USE TRAILING 0

LACK OF LEADING 0

(x.0mg) or (.Xmg)

write X mg or 0.X mg

DO NOT USE > OR <

Write "greater than" or "less than"

DO NOT abbreviate drug names

write drug names in full

DO NOT USE apothecary units

use metric units

DO NOT USE "@"

Write "at"

DO NOT USE "cc"

use "ml" or "milliliters"

DO NOT USE "µg"

Write "mcg" or "micrograms"