aa

ad

disp

div

d.t.d.

of each

up to; to make

dispense

divide

give of such doses

ft

M.

No.

non rep. or NR

q.s

make

mix

number

do not repeat

a sufficient quantity

q.s. ad

sig

a sufficient quantity to make

write (directions on label)

BSA

cm³

f or fl

flʒ

fl℥ss

body surface area

cubic centimeter, or milliliter

fluid

fluid dram

half-fluid ounce

g

gal

gtt

I.U. or IU

lb

gram

gallon

drop

international unit

pound

kg

L

m²

mcg

mEq

kilogram

liter

meter squared

microgram

milliequivalent

mg

mg/kg

mg/m²

MIU

mL

milligram

milligrams per kilogram

milligrams per meter squared

million international units

milliliter

mL/h

mOsm or mOsmol

oz

pt

qt

milliliter per hour

milliosmol

ounce

pint

quart

ss

tbsp

tsp

one half

tablespoonful

teaspoonful

a.c.

ad lib

admin

A.M.

aq.

before meals

at pleasure, freely

administer

morning

water

ATC

 b.i.d.

c

d

dil.

around the clock

twice daily

with

day

dilute

et

h or hr

h.s.

i.c.

min.

and

hour

at bedtime

between meals

minute

m&n

N&V

noct.

NPO

p.c.

morning and night

nausea and vomiting

night

nothing by mouth

after meals

P.M.

p.o.

p.r.n.

q

qAM

afternoon; evening

by

as needed

every

every morning

q4h, q8h, etc

q.i.d.

rep

s

s.i.d.

every ____ hours

four times a day

repeat

without

once a day

s.o.s

stat

t.i.d.

ut dict, ud

wk.

if there is a need; as needed

immediately

three times daily

as directed

week

APAP

ASA

AZT

EES

acetaminophen

aspirin

zidovudine

erythromycin ethylsuccinate

HC

HCTZ

MTX

NTG

hydrocortisone

hydrochlorothiazide

methotrexate

nitroglycerin

BM

BP

BS

CHD

CHF

bowel movement

blood pressure

blood sugar

coronary heart disease

congestive heart failure

GERD

GI

GFR

GU

HA

gastrointestinal reflux disease

gastrointestinal

glomerular filtration rate

genitourinary

headache

HBP

HRT

HT or HTN

ICP

MI

high blood pressure

hormone replacement therapy

hypertension

intraocular pressure

myocardial ischemia/infarction

OA

Pt

SOB

TPN

URI
UTI 

osteoarthritis

patient

shortness of breath

total parenteral nutrition

upper respiratory infection

urinary tract infection

amp

cap

D5LR

D5NS

D5W

ampule

capsule

5% dextrose in lactated ringer's

5% dextrose in normal saline

5% dextrose in water

D10W

elix

inj

NS

1/2NS

10% dextrose in water

elixir

injection

normal saline

half-strength normal saline

oint or ungt

pulv

RL, R/L, LR

sol

supp

ointment

powder

ringer's lactate/lactated ringer's

solution

suppository

susp

syr

tab

suspension

syrup 

tablet

CIVI

ID

IM

IT

IV

continuous intravenous infusion

intradermal

intramuscular

intrathecal

intravenous

IVB

IV drip

IVP

IVPB

NGT

intravenous bolus

intravenous infusion

intravenous push

intravenous piggy back

nasogastric tube

p.o.

rect

SL

SubQ or SC

Top

V or PV

by mouth

rectally

sublingual/under the tongue

subcutaneously/under the skin

topically

vaginally

AD

AS

AU

QD

QHS

right ear

left ear

both ears

every day

bedtime

OD

OS

OU

QOD

UD

right eye

left eye

both eyes

every other day

as directed

conversions to grams

1pg

1ng

1mcg

1mg

1cg

1dg

1kg

picogram = 10^-12 g

nanogram = 10^-9 g

microgram = 10^-6 g

milligram = 10^-3 g

centigram = 0.01 g

decigram = 0.1 g

kilogram = 1000 g

conversion to liters

μL

mL

dL

kL

microliter = 10^-6 L

milliter = 0.001 L

deciliter = 0.1 L

kiloliter = 1000 L 

Apothecary system - weight

1 scruple

1 dram

1 ounce

1 pound

20 grains

3 scruples, 60 grains

8 drams, 480 grains

12 ounces, 5760 grains

apothecary system - volume

1 fluid dram

1 fluid ounce

1 pint

1 quart

1 gallon

60 minims

8 fluid drams

16 fluid ounces

2 pints

4 quarts

avoirdupois system - weight (no volume)

1 ounce (oz)

1 pound (lb)

437.5 grains

16 ounces

practical equivalents for prescription compounding

1 gram

1 grain

1 ounce (apoth)

1 ounce (avoir)

1 lb (avoir)

1kg

15.432 grains

65mg

31.1 grams

28.35 grams

454 grams

2.2 pounds

practical equivalents for prescription compounding

1 mL

1 fluid dram

1 fluid ounce

1 pint

1 quart

1 gallon

16.23 minims

3.69mL

29.57mL

473mL

946mL

3785mL

household conversion (found in sig area)

ʒ

℥ss

℥

8 f℥

one teaspoonful - 5mL

one tablespoonful - 15mL

two tablespoonfuls - 30mL

one glassful - 240mL