The main discussion of these abbreviations in the context of drug prescriptions and other medical prescriptions is at List of abbreviations used in medical prescriptions . Some of these abbreviations are best not used, as marked and explained here.
Abbrev. [1] | Meaning [1] | Latin (or Neo-Latin) origin [1] |
---|---|---|
a.c. | before meals | |
a.d., ad, AD | right ear | auris dextra |
a.m., am, AM | morning | ante meridiem |
nocte | every night | Omne Nocte |
a.s., as, AS | left ear | auris sinistra |
a.u., au, AU | both ears together or each ear | aures unitas or auris uterque |
b.d.s, bds, BDS | 2 times a day | bis die sumendum |
b.i.d., bid, BID | twice a day / twice daily | bis in die |
gtt., gtts | drop(s) | gutta(e) |
h., h | hour | hora |
qhs, h.s., hs | at bedtime or half strength | quaque hora somni |
ii | two tablets | duos doses |
iii | three tablets | trēs doses |
n.p.o., npo, NPO | nothing by mouth / not by oral administration | nihil per os |
o.d., od, OD | right eye once a day (United Kingdom) | oculus dexter omne in die |
o.s., os, OS | left eye | oculus sinister |
o.u., ou, OU | both eyes | oculus uterque |
p.c. | after food | post cibum |
p.m., pm, PM | afternoon or evening | post meridiem |
p.o., po, PO | by mouth / oral administration | per os / nonstandard form per orem |
p.r., pr, PR | rectally / rectal administration | per rectum |
p.r.n., prn, PRN | as needed | pro re nata |
q. | every | quaque |
q.1.h., q1h | every hour | quaque hora |
q.2.h., q2h | every 2 hours | quaque secunda hora |
q.4.h., q4h | every 4 hours | quaque quarta hora |
q.6.h., q6h | every 6 hours | quaque sexta hora |
q.8.h., q8h | every 8 hours | quaque octava hora |
q.a.m., qAM, qam | every morning | quaque ante meridiem |
q.d., qd | every day / daily | quaque die |
q.h.s., qhs | every night at bedtime | quaque hora somni |
q.d.s, qds, QDS | 4 times a day | quater die sumendum |
q.i.d, qid | 4 times a day | quater in die |
q.h., qh | every hour, hourly | quaque hora |
q.o.d., qod | every other day / alternate days | quaque altera die |
q.p.m., qPM, qpm | every afternoon or evening | quaque post meridiem |
q.s., qs | a sufficient quantity (enough) | quantum sufficiat |
q.wk. also qw | weekly (once a week) | quaque week |
Rx, Rx, ℞ | prescription | recipe |
Sig., S. | directions | signa |
Stat. | immediately, with no delay, now | statim |
t.i.d., tid, TID | 3 times a day | ter in die |
t.d.s., tds, TDS | take by mouth 3 times a day | ter die sumendus |
u.d., ud | as directed | ut dictum |