Few technicians enter the pharmacy profession with aspirations of functioning as translators, however many find themselves playing that role the minute they step behind the drop-off counter.
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Few technicians go into the pharmacy profession through aspirations of functioning as translators, however many find themselves play that function the moment they action behind the drop-off counter.
Those that have challenge decoding a prescriber’s directions have the right to refer to the following guide, which lists many of the abbreviations and sig codes that are frequently found ~ above prescriptions; however, there is at this time no overview that can aid techs or pharmacists decipher a prescriber’s handwriting.
Note that prescribers may omit durations where lock are included below, and often capitalize a number of abbreviations that are detailed in lowercase.
Abbreviation
Meaning
Notes
aa
of each
Derived indigenous Latin, ana
AAA
apply to influenced area
a.c.
before meals
Derived native Latin, ante cibum
a.d.
right ear
Derived from Latin, auris dextra
ad lib.
as lot as desired; freely
Derived native Latin, ad libitum (“at one’s pleasure”)
a.m.
morning; before noon
Derived native Latin, ante meridiem
amp.
ampule
amt.
amount
APAP
acetaminophen
aq.
water
Derived native Latin, aqua
a.s.
left ear
Derived indigenous Latin, auris sinistra
ATC
around the clock
a.u.
both ears
Derived indigenous Latin, auris utraque
bib.
drink
Derived native Latin, bibe
b.i.d.
twice a day
Derived indigenous Latin, bis in die
BP
blood pressure
bucc.
inside cheek
Derived native Latin, bucca
c.
with
Derived from Latin, cum; often written through a bar above it
cc
cubic centimeter (cm3)
Less typically used as an abbreviation for cum cibo (“with food”)
cap.
capsule
cm
centimeter
Also provided as one abbreviation because that cream
d.
day
Derived indigenous Latin, dies
DAW
dispense together written
d.c.; d/c
discontinue
dil.
dilute
disp.
dispense
div.
divide
dL
deciliter
DR
delayed-release
EC
enteric-coated
EOD
every various other day
ER; XR
extended-release
et
and
Derived indigenous Latin, et
f., ft.
make; allow it be made
Derived native Latin, fiat
fl.
fluid
FXD
for 10 days
X = Roman character for 10
g, gm
gram
gal
gallon
gr.
grain
gtt.
drop
Derived native Latin, gutta
h., hr., hor.
hour
Derived native Latin, hora
HCT; HCTZ
hydrochlorothiazide
h.s.
at bedtime
Derived native Latin, hora somni (“at the hour the sleep”)
ID
intradermal
IM
intramuscular
IN
intranasal
inf.
infusion
inh.
inhalation
inj.
injection
IR
immediate-release
IU
international unit
IV
intravenous
K
potassium
kg
kilogram
L
liter
lb
pound
Derived from Latin, libra
liq.
liquid
lot.
lotion
m
meter
max.
maximum
mcg; μg
microgram
μ = Greek letter mu
MDP
Medrol Dosepak
Pre-dosed packaging that methylprednisolone (Medrol)
mg
milligram
min.
minimum
mL
milliliter
mm
millimeter
neb.
nebulizer
NSAID
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug
Drug class that contains ibuprofen (Motrin)
o.d.
right eye
Derived from Latin, oculus dexter
ODT
oral disintegrating tablet
oint.
ointment
o.s.
left eye
Derived from Latin, oculus sinister
OTC
over the counter
o.u.
both eyes
Derived from Latin, oculus uterque
oz
ounce
PA
prior authorization
p.c.
after meals
Derived from Latin, post cibum
p.m.
evening; ~ noon
Derived from Latin, post meridiem
p.o.
by mouth; orally
Derived indigenous Latin, per os
p.r.
rectally
Derived native Latin, per rectum
p.r.n.
as needed (for)
Derived indigenous Latin, pro re nata
pt
pint
p.v.
vaginally
Derived from Latin, per vaginam
q
every; per
Derived indigenous Latin, quaque
q12; q. 12 h.; q12°
every 12 hours
12 can be substituted with any number
q1-2; q. 1-2 h.; q1-2°
every 1 come 2 hours
1 and 2 deserve to be substituted with any kind of number
q.a.d.; q.o.d.
every other day
Derived from Latin, quaque alternis die
q.a.m.
every morning; every day before noon
Derived indigenous Latin, quaque anti meridiem
q.d.
every day
Derived native Latin, quaque die
q.h.s.
every day at bedtime
Derived from Latin, quaque hora somni
q.i.d.
4 times a day
Dervied native Latin, quater in die
qt
quart
qty.
quantity
q.p.m.
every evening; every day after noon
Derived from Latin, quaque post meridiem
q.s.
a enough quantity
Derived native Latin, quantum sufficiat
q.w.
every week
Rx
prescription
Derived native Latin, recipere (‘to take”)
s.
without
Derived indigenous Latin, sine; regularly written v a bar above it
SC; SQ; SubQ
subcutaneous
sig.
write; label
Derived from Latin, signa
SL; s.l.
sublingually; under the tongue
SOB
shortness the breath
sol.
solution
SSRI
selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor
Drug course that consists of escitalopram (Lexapro) and also fluoxetine (Prozac)
stat.
immediately
Derived native Latin, statim
supp.
suppository
susp.
suspension
syr.
syrup
tab.
tablet
TAD
take as directed
tbsp
tablespoon
t.i.d.
3 time a day
Derived native Latin, ter in die
top.
topical
troch.
lozenge
Derived from Latin, trochiscus
tsp
teaspoon
U
unit
u.d., ut. Dict.
as directed
Derived indigenous Latin, ut dictum
ung.
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ointment
Derived from Latin, unguentum
w.
with
w/f
with food; with meals
w/o
without
Looking to test your understanding of sig codes through some an especially difficult-to-understand prescriptions? shot reading some of these Rxs!