Prescription Abbreviations
|
| q | - EVERY |
| qH | - EVERY HOUR |
| qAM | - EVERY MORNING |
| qPM | - EVERY EVENING |
| qHS | - EVERY BEDTIME |
| qD | - EVERY DAY |
| qOD | - EVERY OTHER DAY |
| qWK | - EVERY WEEK |
| qMO | - EVERY MONTH |
| q__° | - EVERY___HOURS |
| q__H | - EVERY___HOURS |
| BID | - TWICE A DAY |
| TID | - THREE A DAY |
| QID | - FOUR A DAY |
| X_D | - TIMES__DAYS |
| TDS | - 3 TIMES A DAY |
| C | - WITH |
| AC | - BEFORE A MEAL |
| PC | - AFTER A MEAL |
| HS | - AT BEDTIME |
| PRN | - AS NEEDED |
| UD | - AS DIRECTED |
| AA | - OF EACH |
| QS | - QUANTITY SUFFICIENT |
| GTT | - DROP |
The most difficult pharmacy abbreviations to remember are the eyes and ears. They are very easy to mix up, especially because they seem to make no sense.
Try this:
When you see the O, think of an EYE which is round.
For the A, remember it as "Audio" which is heard through your EARS.
For S, think of "South" and Left handed boxers being dubbed southpaw.
When you see U, imagine it as a face, needing both eyes or ears.
More Prescription Abbreviations
| TBSP | - TABLESPOON |
| TSP | - TEASPOON |
| OZ | - OUNCE |
| GM | - GRAM |
| KG | - KILOGRAM |
| LB | - POUND |
| ML | - MILLILITER |
| L | - LITER |
| G | - GALLON |
| OD | - RIGHT EYE |
| OS | - LEFT EYE |
| OU | - BOTH EYES |
| AD | - RIGHT EAR |
| AS | - LEFT EAR |
| AU | - BOTH EARS |
| PO | - BY MOUTH / ORAL |
| SL | - SUB-LINGUAL |
| NG | - NASO GASTRIC |
| BUCCAL | - CHEEK/GUM |
| PR | - RECTALLY |
| PV | - VAGINALLY |
| SUPP | - SUPPOSITORY |
| TAB | - TABLET |
| CAP | - CAPSULE |
| IM | - INTRA MUSCULAR |
| SQ | - SUB-CUTANEOUS |
| IV | - INTRAVENOUS |
| IC | - INTRA CARDIAC |
| INJ | - INJECTION |
| STAT | - IMMEDIATELY |
Again, it is vital to memorize prescription abbreviations in order to prepare for the PTCB or ExCPT exams. One of the most common tasks performed by pharmacy technicians is decoding prescription orders and translating them into dosages and directions to place on the patients medication packaging.
Have you learned Generic Drug Suffixes yet ?
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