| Latin term | Abbreviation | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ad | ad | to, up to | |
| ad lib. | at pleasure | ||
| adde | add | add (thou) | |
| agita | agit | shake, stir | |
| alternis horis | alt. h. | every other hour | |
| ana | a.a. or aa | of each | |
| ante | a. | before | |
| ante cibum | a.c. | before food, before meals | |
| ante meridien | a.m. | morning | |
| amp. | ampule | ||
| aqua | aq. | water | |
| aqua ad | aq. ad. | water up to | |
| ag. dest; aqua dist. | distilled water | ||
| auris | aur.; a | ear | |
| auris dexter | a.d. | right ear | |
| aurix laevus | a.l. | left ear | |
| auris sinister | a.s. | left ear | |
| auris utro | a.u. | each ear | |
| auristillae | aurist | ear-drops | |
| a.t.c. | around the clock | ||
| bis | b. | twice | |
| bis in die | b.i.d. | twice a day | |
| brachium | brach. | the arm | |
| BSA | body surface area | ||
| capsula | caps | a capsule | |
| c.c. | cubic centimeter | ||
| chartulae | charts | powder papers; divided powders | |
| cibus | cib.; c. | food | |
| collunarium | collun | a nose wash | |
| collutorium | collut. | a mouthwash | |
| collyrium | collyr. | an eyewash | |
| compositus | comp. | compound | |
| congius | cong.; C. | gallon | |
| cum | c or c. | with | |
| cum cibus | c.c. | with food; with meals | |
| dentur | d. | give (thou); let be given | |
| dentur tales doses | d.t.d. | give of such doses | |
| dexter | d. | right | |
| diebus alternis | dieb. alt. | every other day | |
| dilutus | dil. | dilute, diluted | |
| disp. | dispense | ||
| div. | divide | ||
| DW | distilled water | ||
| elix. | elixir | ||
| emulsum | emuls. | emulsion | |
| et | et | and | |
| ex modo prescripto | e.m.p. | in the manner prescribed; as directed | |
| fac, fiat, fiant | f.; ft. | let it be made; make | |
| f.; fl. | fluid | ||
| g.; G.; gm. | gram | ||
| granum | gr. | grain | |
| guttae | gtt. | a drop | |
| hora | h | at the hour of | |
| hora somni | h.s. | at bedtime | |
| i.m. | intramuscular | ||
| injectio | inj. | injection | |
| i.v.; IV | intravenous | ||
| i.v.p.; IVP | intravenous push | ||
| IVPB | intravenous piggyback | ||
| laevus | l. | left | |
| linimentum | lin. | liniment | |
| liquor | liq. | a solution | |
| lot. | lotion | ||
| minimum | min; Mx | minim | |
| misce | m.; M | mix | |
| mcg. | microgram | ||
| mEq. | milliequivalent | ||
| mg. | milligram | ||
| ml. | milliliter | ||
| nocte | n. | at night | |
| naristillae | narist. | nasal drops | |
| nebule | neb. | a spray | |
| N.F. | National Formulary | ||
| non repetatur | non.rep. | do not repeat | |
| NS | normal saline | ||
| octarius | O. | pint | |
| oculentum | occulent. | eye ointment | |
| oculus | o. | eye | |
| oculus dexter | o.d. | right eye | |
| oculus laevus | o.l. | left eye | |
| oculus sinister | o.s. | left eye | |
| oculus utro | o.u. | both eyes, each eye | |
| omni mane | o.m. | every morning | |
| parti affectae applicandus | p.a.a. | to be applied to affected part | |
| per os | p.o. | by mouth | |
| post cibum | p.c. | after meals | |
| p.r. | per rectum | ||
| pro re nata | p.r.n. | as needed | |
| pulvis | pulv. | powder | |
| quater in die | q.i.d. | four times a day | |
| quaque | q. | each, every | |
| quaque die | q.d. | every day | |
| quaque hora | q.h. | every hour | |
| quantum sufficiat | q.s. | a sufficient quantity | |
| quantum sufficiat ad | q.s. ad | a sufficient quantity to make | |
| secundum artem | s.a. | according to the art | |
| S.C.; subc; subq | subcutaneously | ||
| semis | ss | one-half | |
| signa | Sig. | write, label | |
| sine | s | without | |
| si opus sit | s.o.s. | if necessary | |
| sol. | solution | ||
| statim | stat. | immediately | |
| suppositorum | supp. | suppository | |
| syrupus | syr. | syrup | |
| tabella | tab. | tablet | |
| tbsp. | tablespoonful | ||
| ter in die | t.i.d. | three times a day | |
| tinc.; tr. | tincture | ||
| trochiscus | troche | lozenge | |
| tussis | tuss. | a cough | |
| ungentum | ung. | an ointment | |
| ut dictum | ut dict.; u.d. | as directed |
Latin term and Abbreviation commonly used in prescription writing
