PTCB Study Guide: Abbreviations

Dosage Forms Abbreviations

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<table style="width: 100%;"><tbody>
<tr>
    <td colspan="2">Dosage Forms</td> 
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>amp </td>
    <td>ampule </td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>buccal</td>
    <td>buccal tablet</td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>cap </td>
    <td>capsule </td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>Cm</td>
    <td>cream</td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>el or elix</td>
    <td>Elixir</td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>EC tab</td>
    <td>Enteric-coated tablet </td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>expect</td>
    <td>expectorant</td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>gtt</td>
    <td>drops</td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>inj </td>
    <td>injection </td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>lot</td>
    <td>Lotion</td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>loz</td>
    <td>Lozenge</td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>MDI</td>
    <td>Metered Dose inhaler</td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>sol </td>
    <td>solution </td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>spry</td>
    <td>Spray</td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>supp </td>
    <td>suppository </td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>susp </td>
    <td>suspension </td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>syr </td>
    <td>syrup </td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>tab </td>
    <td>tablet </td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>tbsp</td>
    <td>Tablespoon</td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>TDS </td>
    <td>transdermal delivery system </td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>tsp</td>
    <td>Teaspoon</td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>TPN </td>
    <td>total parenteral nutrition </td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>pulv</td>
    <td>poweder</td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>Ung or oint</td>
    <td>ointment</td>  
  </tr>
</tbody></table>

Dosage Forms Abbreviations

Dosage Forms amp ampule buccal buccal tablet cap capsule Cm cream ...

2:31 PM

Route of Administration Abbreviations

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<table style="width: 100%;"><tbody>
<tr>
    <td colspan="2"><b>Route of Administration</b></td> 
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>OD</td>
    <td>Right Eye</td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>OS</td>
    <td>Left Eye</td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>OU</td>
    <td>Both Eyes</td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>AD</td>
    <td>Right Ear</td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>AS</td>
    <td>Left Ear </td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>AU</td>
    <td>Both Ears </td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>PO</td>
    <td>By Mouth </td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>SL</td>
    <td>Sublingual</td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>NG  or NGT</td>
    <td>Feeding Tube through the nose into stomach</td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>IEN or NAS</td>
    <td>by Nostril</td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>Bucc</td>
    <td>Held Inside the Cheek</td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>S&S</td>
    <td>Swish & Swallow </td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>HHN</td>
    <td>Hand Held Nebulizer </td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>PR</td>
    <td>Into the Rectum </td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>PV</td>
    <td>Into the Vagina</td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>SubQ, SC, SQ</td>
    <td>Immediately under the skin</td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>Top</td>
    <td>Topical</td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>GT or PGT</td>
    <td>Feeding Tube through the abdominal wall into stomach</td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>JT</td>
    <td>Feeding Tube through the small Intestine</td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>IA</td>
    <td>Into a(n) artery or joint</td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>IC</td>
    <td>Into the heart muscle</td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>ID</td>
    <td>Into the top layer of the skin</td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>IT</td>
    <td>Into the Trachea</td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>IM</td>
    <td>Into a muscle</td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>IV</td>
    <td>Into a vein</td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>INH</td>
    <td>Inhalant</td>  
  </tr>
</tbody></table>

The most difficult pharmacy abbreviations to remember are the eyes and ears. They are very easy to mix up. Try this: When you see the O, think of "OCULAR". For the A, remember it as "AUDIO". For the letter U, think of "UNITED" - all parts.

Route of Administration Abbreviations

Route of Administration OD Right Eye OS Left Eye OU Both Eyes AD Rig...

2:07 PM

Frequency of Dosage Abbreviations

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Also known as "Sig Codes", Prescription abbreviations are basically coded instructions from a health-care professional. The code is used to supply the words while Roman Numerals are sometimes used for the numbers. These should be memorized to prepare for the PTCB or ExCPT exams.

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<table style="width: 100%;"><tbody>
<tr>
    <td colspan="2">Frequency of Dosage</td> 
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>q</td>
    <td>Every</td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>qH</td>
    <td>Every Hour</td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>qAM</td>
    <td>Every Morning</td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>qPM</td>
    <td>Every Night</td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>qHs</td>
    <td>Every Bedtime</td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>qD</td>
    <td>Everyday</td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>qOD</td>
    <td>Every Other Day</td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>qWK</td>
    <td>Every Week</td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>qMO</td>
    <td>Every Month</td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>q__o</td>
    <td>(Q) 1°, 2°, 3°, 4°, (Every 4 Hours)</td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>q__H</td>
    <td>Every__Hour (Every 4 Hours)</td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>BID</td>
    <td>Twice a day</td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>TID</td>
    <td>Three times a day</td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>QID</td>
    <td>Four times a day</td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>X_D</td>
    <td>Times_Day (3x a day) </td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>C</td>
    <td>With</td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>AC</td>
    <td>Before Meal</td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>PC</td>
    <td>After Meal</td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>HS</td>
    <td>At Bedtime</td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>PRN</td>
    <td>As Needed</td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>UD</td>
    <td>As Directed</td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>AA</td>
    <td>Of Each</td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>QS</td>
    <td>Quantity Sufficient </td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>ATC</td>
    <td>Around the clock</td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>ad lib.</td>
    <td>as desired</td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>STAT</td>
    <td>Immediately</td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</td>
    <td>Half Strength</td>  
  </tr>
</tbody></table>

Frequency of Dosage Abbreviations

Also known as "Sig Codes", Prescription abbreviations are basically coded instructions from a health-care professional. The code...

1:49 PM

Extended-Release Medications

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These medication dosage forms are called extended-release, sustained release, long-acting, or controlled release. Although the exact meaning of these terms differ in some respects, each of these terms implies a gradual release of medication over a long period time.<br />
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<table style="width: 100%;">  <tbody>
<tr>
    <td>CD</td>
    <td>Controlled-diffusion</td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>CR</td>
    <td>Controlled-release, continuous-release</td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>CRT</td>
    <td>Controlled-release tablet</td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>LA</td>
    <td>Long-acting</td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>SA</td>
    <td>Sustained-action</td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>SR</td>
    <td>Sustained-release, slow-relaese</td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>TD</td>
    <td>Time-delay</td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>TR</td>
    <td>Time-release</td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>XL</td>
    <td>Extra-long</td>  
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>XR</td>
    <td>Extended-release</td>  
  </tr>
</tbody></table>

Extended-Release Medications

These medication dosage forms are called extended-release, sustained release, long-acting, or controlled release. Although the exact meani...

5:15 PM