List out the various abbreviations, short forms used in prescriptions and their interpretation

What are prescription abbreviations?

You may have seen prescription abbreviations like qd, hs, or bid on your medication labels, which are derived from the latin words for “every day,” “at bedtime,” and “twice daily,” respectively. Perhaps one of the most common is Rx, which is the official symbol for “prescription.” Thought to be derived from the latin word for “recipe,” this abbreviation relays to pharmacists that a prescription is authorized to be filled.

This article will discuss the Latin abbreviations healthcare providers use on prescriptions and help you learn how to translate them. It will also discuss steps you can take to protect yourself from prescribing errors.

Assembling a comprehensive list of prescription abbreviations along with their interpretations provides valuable insight into the language and conventions used in medical practice.

The Origins of “Rx” as an Abbreviation for “Prescription”

Rx is an abbreviation for “prescription.” In the U.S. it is believed that the origin of the symbol is an abbreviation of the Latin word for “recipe,” which means “take.” In Europe, another suggestion of the origin of the symbol appears to represent the astronomical sign of the planet Jupiter. According to another theory, the Rx symbol is based on the Roman deity Jupiter. Jupiter’s symbol looked similar to the Rx symbol. The symbol may have been placed on a prescription to invoke Jupiter’s blessing.

The abbreviations may be written in capital letters or small letters, and may or may not include periods.

Here’s an extensive compilation of abbreviations commonly found in prescriptions, categorized by their usage and interpretation.

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Dosage and Frequency:

1. OD: Once daily
2. BD: Twice daily
3. TDS: Three times daily
4. QDS: Four times daily
5. QID: Four times daily
6. HS: At bedtime (from Latin “hora somni”)
7. PC: After meals (from Latin “post cibum”)
8. AC: Before meals (from Latin “ante cibum”)
9. PRN: As needed (from Latin “pro re nata”)
10. QAM: Every morning
11. QPM: Every evening
12. Q4H, Q6H, Q8H, etc.: Every 4, 6, 8 hours, etc.
13. QOD: Every other day (from Latin “quaque altera die”)

Route of Administration:

14. PO: By mouth (from Latin “per os”)
15. IV: Intravenous
16. IM: Intramuscular
17. SQ: Subcutaneous
18. PR: Rectal (from Latin “per rectum”)
19. TOP: Topical
20. OTIC: Ear drops
21. OD: Right eye (from Latin “oculus dexter”)
22. OS: Left eye (from Latin “oculus sinister”)
23. OU: Both eyes (from Latin “oculi uterque”)
24. INH: Inhalation

Patient Instructions:

25. NR: No refills
26. UD: Use as directed
27. NP: Not to be refilled
28. DAW: Dispense as written
29. UD: Use as directed
30. Sig: Let it be labeled
31. UDD: Use as directed
32. UDHS: Use as directed, by the hour of sleep
33. ETOH: Alcohol
34. NPO: Nothing by mouth (from Latin “nil per os”)
35. SS: Half (from Latin “semis”)
36. NSS: Normal saline solution
37. SOS: If necessary (from Latin “si opus sit”)
38. ASAP: As soon as possible

Medical Conditions and States:

39. SOB: Shortness of breath
40. CVA: Cerebrovascular accident (stroke)
41. COPD: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
42. DM: Diabetes mellitus
43. HTN: Hypertension
44. CHF: Congestive heart failure
45. UTI: Urinary tract infection
46. GI: Gastrointestinal
47. GERD: Gastroesophageal reflux disease
48. IBS: Irritable bowel syndrome
49. CNS: Central nervous system
50. PVD: Peripheral vascular disease
51. PID: Pelvic inflammatory disease
52. PID: Pelvic inflammatory disease
53. UTI: Urinary tract infection
54. RA: Rheumatoid arthritis
55. OA: Osteoarthritis
56. TIA: Transient ischemic attack
57. MI: Myocardial infarction

Laboratory and Diagnostic Abbreviations:

58. CBC: Complete blood count
59. CMP: Comprehensive metabolic panel
60. UA: Urinalysis
61. ECG/EKG: Electrocardiogram
62. MRI: Magnetic resonance imaging
63. CT: Computed tomography
64. PT: Prothrombin time
65. PTT: Partial thromboplastin time
66. INR: International normalized ratio
67. HbA1c: Glycated hemoglobin (used for monitoring diabetes)
68. ESR: Erythrocyte sedimentation rate
69. CRP: C-reactive protein
70. BUN: Blood urea nitrogen
71. SCr: Serum creatinine
72. HDL: High-density lipoprotein
73. LDL: Low-density lipoprotein

Medication Names and Classes:

74. ASA: Acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin)
75. APAP: Acetaminophen
76. NSAIDs: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
77. ACEI: Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor
78. ARB: Angiotensin II receptor blocker
79. SSRI: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor
80. SNRI: Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor
81. MAOI: Monoamine oxidase inhibitor
82. BB: Beta-blocker
83. CCB: Calcium channel blocker
84. PPI: Proton pump inhibitor
85. H2RA: Histamine-2 receptor antagonist
86. SSA: Somatostatin analogs
87. SABA: Short-acting beta-agonist
88. LABA: Long-acting beta-agonist
89. SGLT2: Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors
90. GLP-1: Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists
91. DPP-4: Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors
92. TZD: Thiazolidinediones
93. BMI: Body mass index
94. LFTs: Liver function tests
95. HRT: Hormone replacement therapy
96. NS: Normal saline
97. TPN: Total parenteral nutrition

Miscellaneous Abbreviations:

98. Rx: Prescription
99. OTC: Over-the-counter
100. POISON: Poison control hotline number
101. MEDWATCH: FDA’s safety information and adverse event reporting program
102. APAP: Acetaminophen
103. HRT: Hormone replacement therapy
104. TCA: Tricyclic antidepressant
105. SSRIs: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
106. CYP: Cytochrome P450
107. SSRIs: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors

This compilation of prescription abbreviations and their interpretations provides insight into the language of medical practice and helps ensure clarity and accuracy in medication administration and communication among healthcare providers and patients. Always consult with healthcare professionals for accurate interpretation and use of prescription abbreviations.

Declining Use of Prescription Abbreviations

The Latin terms are still in use, but some healthcare providers are retiring them. It is becoming more common for healthcare providers to write prescription instructions in plain language. Readable prescriptions can help prevent medication errors. That is why many medical professionals believe written instructions should be used instead of hard-to-read abbreviations.

For example, the abbreviation qd, which means “daily,” could be mistaken for qid, which means “four times a day.” It could also be confused for od, which means “right eye.” Simply writing “daily” prevents confusion. E-prescribing, or electronic prescribing, can also help prevent medication errors. Instructions sent directly to the pharmacy electronically are less prone to human error. If your healthcare provider uses electronic prescribing, you may never see the abbreviations.

To avoid ambiguity, the following abbreviations are not recommended.

1. a.u., a.s., a.d. – Latin for both, left and right ears; the “a” can be misread to be an “o” and interpreted to mean both, right or left eyes
2. bt – intended to mean “bedtime”, but can be misread as “bid” or twice daily.
3. d/c – can mean “discontinue” or “discharge”
4. h.s. – can mean half strength or “hour of sleep”
5. IJ – intended to mean “injection”, but can be misread as “IV”
6. IN – intended to mean “intranasal”, but can be misread as “IM” or “IV”
7. IU – intended to mean “international unit”, but can be misread as “IV” or “10”
8. o.d., o.s., o.u. – the “o” can be misread as “a”.
9. o.d. – can mean “once daily” or “right eye”.
10. OJ – intended to mean “orange juice” but can be misread as “OD” or “OS”
11. q4PM – intended to mean “at 4 PM”, but can be misread as every 4 hours
12. q.d., q1d – intended to mean “every day” but can be misread as “q.i.d.” or 4 times a
    day
13. q.o.d. – meant “every other day” but the “o” can be interpreted as “.” or “i” resulting
    in double or eight times the frequency
14. SC – meant “subcutaneaous” but mistaken for “SL” for “sublingual”
15. SQ – meant “subcutaneaous” but mistaken for “5Q” or 5 every dose
16. ‘ss‘ – intended to mean “sliding scale” or “1/2”, but can be mistaken as “55”
17. ‘SSI, SSRI – intended to mean “sliding scale insulin” or “sliding scale regular insulin”,
    but can be mistaken as “strong solution of iodine” or “selective serotonin reuptake
    inhibitor
18. T.I.W – meant 3 times a week but mistaken for twice a week
19. U – meant “units” but mistaken for “0”, “4” (so “4U” can become “40” and the “U” is
    assumed), or misread as “cc” when poorly written; conversely cc can be mistaken
    for “U”
20. μg – meant “microgram” but mistaken for “mg”; this 1000-fold error can cause
    potentially fatal misunderstandings