72 Abbreviations Every Pharmacy Tech Needs to Know
There’s a lot to learn if you want to have a career as a pharmacy technician. Pharmacy operations, laws and ethics are just the start. You’ll need to know about compounding and measuring medications and how to prevent infection and cross contaminations. You’ll also need to become familiar with hundreds of treatment and prescription abbreviations. Are you ready to get started? Check out our list of important pharmacy terminology you’ll need to know.
Pharmacy and Prescription Abbreviations
1. aa -of each; as in take one of each of these pills before bed
2. AA -apply to affected area
3. a.c. -before meals
4. p.c. -after meals
5. a.d. -right ear
6. a.s. -left ear
7. a.u. -both ears
8. ad lib. -as much as desired
9. amt. -amount
10. APAP – acetaminophen; a pain reliever, Tylenol being one of the most widely known
11. aq. -water; as in take with water
12. ATC -around the clock; as in providing medications for 24 hours in intervals
13. bib. -drink
14. b.i.d. -twice a day
15. BP -blood pressure
16. c. -with
17. d.c. -discountinue
18. dil. -dilute
19. disp. -dispense
20. div. -divide
21. et -and
22. fl. -fluid
23. g -gram
24. gal -gallon
25. gtt. -drop
26. h., hr., hor. -hour
27. h.s. -at bedtime
28. ID – intradermal; as in administered intradermally or through the skin
29. IM – intramuscular; as in administered intramuscularly or through the muscle
30. IN – intranasal; as in administered intranasally or through the nose
31. inf. – infusion; as when drugs are given non-orally such as intravenously
32. inh. -inhalation; as when drugs are delivered through inhalers
33. inj. -injection
34. IV -intravenous; as when drugs are delivered through veins
35. liq -liquid
36. max. -maximum
37. min. – minimum
38. neb. – nebulizer; as in the device through which inhalant medications are administered
39. o.d. -right eye
40. o.s. -left eye
41. o.u. -both eyes
42. oint. -ointment
43. OTC -over the counter; as in medications you can purchase without a prescription
44. p.o. -by mouth
45. p.r.n. -as needed
46. q -every
47. q12 -every 12 hours
48. q1-2 -every 1 to 2 hours
49. q.o.d. -every other day
50. q.a.m. -every morning
51. q. d. -every day
52. q.h.s. -every bedtime
53. q.i.d. -four times a day
54. q.p.m. -every evening
55. q.w. -every week
56. Rx -prescription
57. s. -without
58. w. -with
59. SC – subcutaneous; as in medications administered beneath the skin through injection or IV
60. sig. -write/label
61. SL – sublingually; as in medications administered under the tongue
62. SOB -shortness of breath
63. soln. -solution
64. stat. -now
65. syr. -syrup
66. tab. -tablet
67. t.i.d. -three times a day
68. top. -topical; as in medications delivered topically or applied directly to the body
69. troch. – lozenge
70. u.d. -as directed
71. w/f -with food
72. X 10 d. -for 10 days
If you want a healthcare career, check out the pharmacy technician program at Charter College. And if you’re already on the path to this rewarding career, use our 72 abbreviations to increase your knowledge of what you’ll encounter on the job.
1 http://www.pharmacytimes.com/technician-news/a-technicians-guide-to-pharmacy-abbreviations