Common Abbreviations

Pharmacy
Michael John Hughey
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Michael John Hughey, MD
Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Illinois; Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD; Senior Attending Physician, Evanston Northwestern Healthcare, Evanston, IL

The contents of this section were drawn from Operational Medicine 2001, Health Care in Military Settings, CAPT Michael John Hughey, MC, USNR, ed., Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, Department of the Navy, NAVMED P-5139, May 1, 2001. They have been reformatted for consistency with Gynecology and Obstetrics.

Browse Pharmacy Titles at Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Alphabetical Listing
Categorical Listing
Antibiotics of Choice
Pediatric Doses for Commonly-used Medications
Pregnancy Categories

Photosensitivity Reactions
Common Pharmacy Abbreviations
Vitamins and Minerals
Herbal Medications

Common Abbreviations

ABG	Arterial blood gas	M	meter
AC	before meals	MAOI	monoamine oxidase inhibitor
ACE	angiotensin-converting enzyme	mcg	microgram
ACTH	adrenocorticotopic hormone	MDI	metered dose inhaler
AD	right ear	mEq	milliequivalent
ADH	antidiuretic hormone	mg	milligram
AER	aerosol	Mg	magnesium
AIDS	acquired immunodeficiency Syndrome	MI	myocardial infarction
ALT	alanine aminotrasferase, serum	MIN	minute
ANA	antinuclear antibody	ml	milliliter
AS	left ear	mm	millimeter
AST	aspartate aminotransferase, serum	mmol	millimole
AU	each ear	MS	musculoskeletal
AUC	area under curve	MS	morphine sulfate
AV	atrioventricular
		Na	sodium
BID	twice daily	NEB	nebulizer
		NPO	nothing by mouth
Ca	Calcium	NS	normal saline
CAD	coronary artery disease	NSAID	nonsteroidal
CAP	capsule
CATH	catheterize	OD	right eye
CBC	complete blood count	OINT	ointment
CC	cubic centimeter	OS	left eye
CHF	congestive heart failure	OTC	over the counter
Cl	chloride	OU	each eye
CMV	cytomegalovirus	oz	ounce
CNS	central nervous system
COPD	chronic obstructive pulmonary disease	PC	after meals
CPK	creatine phosphokinase	PO	by mouth
CrCl	creatinine clearance	PR	per rectum
CSF	cerebral spinal fluid	PRN	as needed
CV	cardiovascular	PT	prothrombin time
CVA	cardiovascular accident	PTH	parathyroid hormone
CVP	central venous pressure	PTT	partial thromboplastin time
CXR	chest x-ray	PVC	premature ventricular contractions

D5W	5% dextrose in water	Q	every
D50W	50% dextrose in water	QAM	every morning
DNA	deoxyribonucleic acid	QD	every day
DUB	dysfunctional uterine bleeding	QH	every hour
		Q4H	every 4 hours
ECG	electrocardiogram	QID	4 times a day
EEG	electroencephalogram	QOD	every other day
EENT	eye, ear, nose, throat	QPM	every evening
EKG	electrocardiogram
ELIX	elixir	RBC	red blood cell
ESR	erythocyte sedimentation rate	RESP	respiratory
ET	via endotracheal tube	RNA	ribonucleic acid

FSH	Follicle stimulating hormone	SC	subcutaneous (beneath the skin)
g	gram	SL	sublingual (beneath the tongue
G6PD	glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase	SOL	Solution
GI	gastrointestinal	SS	one half
GTT	drop	SUPP	suppository
		SUSP	suspension
H2	histamine 2	SUST	sustained
HCT	hematocrit	SYR	syrup
HCG	human chorionic gonadotropin
HEME	hematologic	T3	triiodothyronine
HGB	hemoglobin	T4	thyroxine
HMG CoA	3-hydroxy 3-methyl-glutaryl coenzyme A	TAB	tablet
HR	hour	TID	three times a day
HS	at bedtime	TINC	tincture
HSV	herpes simplex virus	TRANS	transdermal
		TSH	thyroid stimulating hormone
IgG	immunoglobulin G	TT	thrombin time
IM	intramuscular		unit
INF	infusion	U
INH	inhalation	UA	urinalysis
INJ	injection	URI	upper respiratory infection
IV	intravenous	UV	ultraviolet

K	potassium	VAG	vaginal
KG	kilogram	VOL	volume
		VS	vital signs
L	liter
LDL	low density lipoprotein	WBC	white blood count
LH	luteinizing hormone	WK	week
LIQ	liquid
LOZ	lozenge	YR	year

Source: Operational Medicine 2001, Health Care in Military Settings, NAVMED P-5139, May 1, 2001, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, Department of the Navy, 2300 E Street NW, Washington, D.C., 20372-5300