A.U.

Type: Abbreviation Definitions: 1. Abbreviation for auris utraque [L.], each ear or both ears.

AAA A-a gradient AAD AAO A&O AAS ABD ABG AC ACLS ACTH ADH ADR ad lib AED AF AFB AFP A /G AI

abdominal aortic aneurysm alveolar to arterial gradient antibiotic-associated diarrhea alert, awake, and oriented alert & oriented acute abdominal series abdomen arterial blood gas before eating advanced cardiac life support adrenocorticotropic hormone anti-diuretic hormone adverse drug reaction | acute dystonic reaction as much as needed antiepileptic drug | automated external defibrillator atrial fibrillation or afebrile acid-fast bacilli alpha-fetoprotein albumin/globulin ratio aortic insufficiency

AKA ALD ALL amb AML ANA ANS AOB AODM AP ARDS ARF AS ASAP ASCVD ASD ASHD AV A-V A-VO2

above the knee amputation alcoholic liver disease acute lymphocytic leukemia ambulate acute myelogenous leukemia antinuclear antibody autonomic nervous system alcohol on breath adult onset diabetes mellitus anteroposterior or abdominal - perineal acute respiratory distress syndrome acute renal failure aortic stenosis as soon as possible atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease atrial septal defect atherosclerotic heart disease atrioventricular arteriovenous arteriovenous oxygen B

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Abbreviation Interpretation

BBB BCAA BE BEE

bundle branch block branched chain amino acids barium enema basal energy expenditure

bid BKA BM BMR BOM BP BPH BPM BRBPR BRP BS BUN BW BX

twice a day below the knee amputation bone marrow or bowel movement basal metabolic rate bilateral otitis media blood pressure benign prostatic hypertrophy beats per minute bright red blood per rectum bathroom priviledges bowel or breath sounds blood urea nitrogen body weight biopsy C

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Abbreviation Interpretation

c C&S CA Ca CAA CABG CAD CAT CBC CBG

with culture and sensitivity cancer calcium crystalline amino acids coronary artery bypass graft coronary artery disease computerized axial tomography complete blood count capillary blood gas

CC CCU CCV CF CGL CHF CHO CI CML CMV CN CNS CO C/O COLD COPD CP CPAP CPK CPR CRCL CRF CRP CSF CT CVA CVAT CVP

chief complaint clean catch urine or cardiac care unit critical closing volume cystic fibrosis chronic granulocytic leukemia congestive heart failure carbohydrate cardiac index chronic myelogenous leukemia cytomegalovirus cranial nerves central nervous system cardiac output complaining of chronic obstructive lung disease chronic obstructive pulmonary disease chest pain or cerebral palsy continuous positive airway pressure creatine phosphokinase cardiopulmonary resuscitation creatinine clearance chronic renal failure C-reactive protein cerebrospinal fluid computerized tomography cerebrovascular accident or costovertebral angle CVA tenderness central venous pressure

CXR

chest X-ray

DAT DAW DC D&C DDx D5W DI DIC DIP DJD DKA dL DM DNR DOA DOE DPL DPT DTR DVT DX

diet as tolerated dispense as written discontinue or discharge dilation and curettage differential diagnosis 5% dextrose in water diabetes insipidus disseminated intravascular coagulopathy distal interphalangeal joint degenerative joint disease diabetic ketoacidosis deciliter diabetes mellitus do not resuscitate dead on arrival dyspnea on exertion diagnostic peritoneal lavage diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus deep tendon reflexes deep venous thrombosis diagnosis

E Note: double mouse click to return to the top of the page

EAA EBL ECG ECT EFAD essential amino acids estimated blood loss electrocardiogram electroconvulsive therapy essential fatty acid deficiency

EMG EMV ENT EOM ESR ET ETT ERCP ETOH EUA

Electromyogram eyes, motor, verbal response (Glasgow coma scale) ears, nose, and throat extraocular muscles erythrocyte sedimentation rate endotracheal endotracheal tube endoscopic retrograde cholangio -pancreatography ethanol examination under anesthesia

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FBS FEV FFP FRC FTT FU FUO FVC Fx GC GETT GFR GI gr GSW gt or gtt GTT GU fasting blood sugar forced expiratory volume fresh frozen plasma functional residual capacity failure to thrive follow-up fever of unknown origin forced vital capacity fracture gonorrhea general by endotracheal tube glomerular filtration rate gastrointestinal grain; 1 grain = 65mg. Therefore Vgr = 325mg gun shot wound drops glucose tolerance test genitourinary

GXT

graded exercise tolerance (Stress test)

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HA HAA HAV HBP HCG HCT HDL HEENT Hgb H/H HIV HLA HJR HO HOB HPF HPI HR HS HSM HTLV-III HSV HTN Hx headache hepatitis B surface antigen hepatitis A virus high blood pressure human chorionic gonadotropin hematocrit high density lipoprotein head, eyes, ears, nose, throat hemoglobin henderson- hasselbach equation or hemoglobin/ hematocrit human immunodeficiency virus histocompatibility locus antigen hepatojugular reflex history of head of bed high power field history of present illness heart rate at bedtime hepatosplenomegaly human lymphotropic virus, type III (AIDS agent, HIV) herpes simplex virus hypertension history

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I&D I&O ICS ICU ID IDDM IG IHSS IM IMV INF IPPB IRBBB IRDM IT ITP IV IVC IVP JODM JVD incision and drainage intake and output intercostal space intensive care unit infectious disease or identification insulin dependent diabetes mellitus immunoglobulin idiopathic hypertropic subaortic stenosis intramuscular intermittent mandatory ventilation intravenous nutritional fluid intermittent positive pressure breathing incomplete right bundle branch block insulin resistant diabetes mellitus interthecal idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura intravenous intravenous cholangiogram | inferior vena cava intravenous pyelogram juvenile onset diabetes mellitus jugular venous distention

K
KOR KUB KVO keep open rate kidneys, ureters, bladder keep vein open

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L LAD LAE LAHB LAP LBBB LDH LE LIH LLL LMP LNMP LOC LP LPN LUL LUQ LV

left left axis deviation or left anterior descending left atrial enlargement left anterior hemiblock left atrial pressure or leukocyte alkaline phosphatase left bundle branch block lactate dehydrogenase lupus erythematosus left inguinal hernia left lower lobe last menstrual period last normal menstrual period loss of consciousness or level of consciousness lumbar puncture licensed practical nurse left upper lobe Left Upper Quadrant left ventricle

LVEDP left ventricular end diastolic pressure LVH left ventricular hypertrophy

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MAO MAP MAST MBT MCH MCHC MCV MI monoamine oxidase mean arterial pressure medical antishock trousers maternal blood type mean cell hemoglobin mean cell hemoglobin concentration mean cell volume myocardial infarction or mitral insufficiency

mL MLE MMEF mmol MMR MRI MRSA MS MSSA MVA MVI MVV

milliliter midline episiotomy maximal mid expiratory flow millimole measles, mumps, rubella magnetic resonance imaging methicillin resistant staph aureus multiple sclerosis or mitral stenosis, or morphine sulfate methicillin-sensitive staph aureus motor vehicle accident multivitamin injection maximum voluntary ventilation
List of abbreviations used in medical prescriptions Abbreviation aa ad a.c. a.d. ad lib. admov. agit alt. h. a.m. amp amt aq a.l., a.s. A.T.C. a.u. bis b.d./b.i.d. auris utraque bis bis in die aqua auris laeva, auris sinistra ana ad ante cibum auris dextra ad libitum admove agita alternis horis ante meridiem Latin of each up to before meals right ear use as much as one desires; freely apply stir/shake every other hour morning, before noon ampule amount water left ear around the clock both ears twice twice daily "a" can be mistaken as an "o" which could read "o.u.", meaning both eyes "a" can be mistaken as an "o" which could read "o.s." or "o.l", meaning left eye "a" can be mistaken as an "o" which could read "o.d.", meaning right eye Meaning Possible confusion

B.M. BNF bol. B.S. B.S.A b.t. BUCC cap., caps. c, c. cib. cc cf comp. cr., crm CST D5W D5NS D.A.W. dc, D/C, disc dieb. alt. dil. disp. div. d.t.d. D.W. elix. e.m.p. emuls. et eod ex aq ex aqua ex modo prescripto emulsum et dentur tales doses diebus alternis bucca capsula cum cibus cum cibo bolus

bowel movement British National Formulary as a large single dose (usually intravenously) blood sugar body surface areas bedtime inside cheek capsule with (usually written with a bar on top of the "c") food with food, (but also cubic centimetre) with food compound cream Continue same treatment dextrose 5% solution (sometimes written as D5W) dextrose 5% in normal saline (0.9%) dispense as written (i.e., no generic substitution) discontinue or discharge every other day dilute dispersible or dispense divide give of such doses distilled water elixir as directed emulsion and every other day in water ambiguous meaning mistaken for "U", meaning units; also has an ambiguous meaning; use "mL" or "milliliters" mistaken for "b.i.d", meaning twice daily

fl., fld. ft. g gr gtt(s) H h, hr h.s. h.s ID IJ, inj IM injectio hora hora somni gutta(e) fiat

fluid make; let it be made gram grain drop(s) hypodermic hour at bedtime hour sleep or half-strength intradermal injection intramuscular (with respect to injections) intranasal intraperitoneal international unit intravenous intravenous push intravenous piggyback label as such coal tar solution linimentum liquor liniment solution lotion mane misce minimum in the morning mix a minimum microgram more dicto utendus to be used as directed milliequivalent milligram magnesium sulfate mistura mitte mix send may be confused with "MSO4", spell out "magnesium sulfate" mistaken for "IV" or "10", spell out "international unit" mistaken for "IM", meaning intramuscular, or "IV", meaning intravenously mistaken for "IV", meaning intravenously ambiguous meaning

IN IP IU IV IVP IVPB L.A.S. LCD lin liq lot. mane M. m, min mcg m.d.u. mEq mg MgSO4 mist. mitte

mL MS MSO4 nebul N.M.T. noct. non rep. NS 1/2NS N.T.E. o_2 od omne in die nocte non repetatur nebula

millilitre morphine sulfate or magnesium can mean either morphine sulfate or sulfate magnesium sulfate, spell out either morphine sulfate a spray not more than at night no repeats normal saline (0.9%) half normal saline (0.45%) not to exceed both eyes, sometimes written as o2 every day/once daily (preferred to qd in the UK[3]) right eye every morning every night once per day oculus sinister oculus uterque left eye both eyes ounce per post cibum pigmentum post meridiem per os per rectum pro re nata pulvis per vaginam quaque quoque alternis die by or through after meals paint evening or afternoon by mouth or orally by rectum as needed powder via the vagina every every other day "o" can be mistaken as an "a" which could read "a.s.", meaning left ear "o" can be mistaken as an "a" which could read "a.u.", meaning both ears "o" can be mistaken as an "a" which could read "a.d.", meaning right ear, confusion with omne in die may be confused with "MgSO4", spell out "morphine sulfate"

od om on o.p.d. o.s. o.u. oz per p.c. pig./pigm. p.m. p.o. p.r. PRN, prn pulv. PV q q.a.d. q.a.m.

oculus dexter omne mane omne nocte

quaque die ante every day before noon meridiem

q.d.s. q.p.m. q.h. q.h.s. q.1h, q.1 q.d., q1d q.i.d. q4PM q.o.d. qqh q.s. QWK R rep., rept. RL, R/L s s.a. SC, subc, subcut, subq, SQ sig SL sol s.o.s., si op. sit ss

quater die sumendus

four times a day

can be mistaken for "qd" (every day)

quaque die post every day after noon meridiem quaque hora quaque hora somni quaque 1 hora quaque die quattuor in die every hour every night at bedtime every 1 hour; (can replace "1" with other numbers) every day four times a day at 4pm every other day quater quaque hora quantum sufficiat every four hours a sufficient quantity every week rectal repetatur repeats Ringer's lactate sine without (usually written with a bar on top of the "s") mistaken to mean every four hours mistaken for "QD", spell out "every other day" mistaken for "QOD" or "qds", spell out "every day" or "daily"

secundum artum use your judgement subcutaneous write on label sublingually, under the tongue solutio si opus sit semis solution if there is a need one half or sliding scale sliding scale insulin or sliding scale regularinsulin statim suppositorium immediately suppository suspension syrupus syrup ambiguous meaning; mistaken for "55" or "1/2" mistaken to mean "strong solution of iodine" or "selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor" "SC" can be mistaken for "SL", meaning sublingual; "SQ" can be mistaken for "5Q" meaning five every dose

SSI, SSRI stat supp susp syr

tab tal., t tbsp troche t.d.s. t.i.d. t.i.w. top. T.P.N. tr, tinc., tinct. tsp U g u.d., ut. dict. ung. U.S.P. vag w wf w/o X Y.O.

tabella talus

tablet such tablespoon

trochiscus ter die sumendum ter in die

lozenge three times a day three times a day three times a week topical total parenteral nutrition tincture teaspoon unit microgram mistaken for a "4", "0" or "cc", spell out "unit" mistaken for "mg", meaning milligram mistaken for twice a week

ut dictum unguentum

as directed ointment United States Pharmacopoeia vaginally with with food (with meals) without times years old List of symbols used in prescriptions

Symbols @ > <

Latin at

Meaning greater than less than

Possible confusion mistaken for "2"; spell out "at" mistaken for a "7" mistaken for an "L"

take, take this, or take thus

prescription drug

NAD NAS NCV NED ng

no active disease no added salt nerve conduction velocity no evidence of recurrent disease nanogram

NG NIDDM NKA NKDA NMR NPO NRM NSAID NSR NT

nasogastric non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus no known allergies no known drug allergies nuclear magnetic resonance nothing by mouth no regular medications non-steroidal anti- inflammatory drugs normal sinus rhythm nasotracheal

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OB OCG OD OM OOB OOP OPV OR OS OU obstetrics oral cholecystogram overdose or right eye otitis media out of bed out of plaster oral polio vaccine operating room left eye both eyes

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P PA PAC PAO2 PaO2 para posteroanterior premature atrial contraction alveolar oxygen peripheral arterial oxygen content

PAP PAT P&PD PC PCWP PDA PDR PE PEEP PFT pg PI PKU PMH PMI PMN PND PO POD PP PPD PR PRBC PRN PS PT Pt PTCA PTH PTHC PTT

pulmonary artery pressure paroxysymal atrial tachycardia percussion and postural drainage after eating pulmonary capillary wedge pressure patent ductus arteriosus physicians desk reference pulmonary embolus, or physical exam or pleural effusion positive end expiratory pressure pulmonary function tests picogram pulmonic insufficiency disease phenylketonuria previous medical history point of maximal impulse polymorphonuclear leukocyte (neutrophil) paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea by mouth post-op day postprandial or pulsus paradoxus purified protein derivative by rectum packed red blood cells as needed pulmonic stenosis prothrombin time, or physical therapy patient percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty parathyroid hormone percutanous transhepatic cholangiogram partial thromboplastin time

PUD PVC PVD

peptic ulcer disease premature ventricular contraction peripheral vascular disease

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q qd qh q4h, q6h.... qid QNS qod Qs/Qt Qt R RA RAD RAE RAP RBBB RBC RBP RDA RDW RIA RIH RLL RLQ RML RNA every (e.g. q6h = every 6 hours) every day every hour every 4 hours, every 6 hours etc. four times a day quantity not sufficient every other day shunt fraction total cardiac output right rheumatoid arthritis or right atrium right atrial axis deviation right atrial enlargement right atrial pressure right bundle branch block red blood cell retinol-binding protein recommended daily allowance red cell distribution width radioimmunoassay right inguinal hernia right lower lobe right lower quadrant right middle lobe ribonucleic acid

R/O ROM ROS RPG RRR RT RTA RTC RU RUG RUL RUQ RV RVH Rx

rule out range of motion review of systems retrograde pyelogram regular rate and rhythm respiratory or radiation therapy renal tubular acidosis return to clinic resin uptake retrograde urethogram right upper lobe right upper quadrant residual volume right ventricular hyperthrophy treatment

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s SA SAA S&E SBE SBFT SBS SCr SEM SG SGA SGGT SGOT without | ss = one-half sinoatrial synthetic amino acid sugar and acetone subacute bacterial endocarditis small bowel follow through short bowel syndrome serum creatinine systolic ejection murmur Swan-Ganz small for gestational age serum gamma- glutamyl transpeptidase serum glutamic- oxaloacetic transaminase

SGPT SIADH sig SIMV sl SLE SMO SOAP SOB SQ STAT SVD Sx

serum glutamic- pyruvic transaminase syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone write on label synchronous intermittent mandatory ventilation sublingual systemic lupus erythematous slips made out subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan shortness of breath subcutaneous immediately spontaneous vaginal delivery symptoms

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T&C TAH T&H TB TBG Td TIA TIBC tid TIG TKO TLC TMJ TNTC TO type and cross total abdominal hysterectomy type and hold tuberculosis total binding globulin tetanus-diphtheria toxoid transient ischemic attack total iron binding capacity three times a day tetanus immune globulin to keep open total lung capacity temporo mandibular joint too numerous to count telephone order

TOPV TPN TSH TT TTP TU TUR TURBT TURP TV TVH tw Tx UA UAC UAO UBD UC ud UFH UGI URI URQ US UTI UUN UVA

trivalent oral polio vaccine total parenteral nutrition thyroid stimulating hormone thrombin time thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura tuberculin units transurethral resection TUR bladder tumors transurethral resection of prostate tidal volume total vaginal hysterectomy twice a week treatment, transplant urinalysis uric acid | umbilical artery catheter upper airway obstruction universal blood donor ulcerative colitis | umbilical cord as directed unfractionated heparin upper gastrointestinal upper respiratory infection upper right quadrant ultrasound urinary tract infection urinary urea nitrogen ultraviolet A light

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VAD venous access device

VC VCT VCUG VDRL VMA VO V/Q VRE VSS VT VV VW VWD VZV

vital capacity venous clotting time voiding cysourethrogram Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (test for syphilis) vanillymadelic acid verbal or voice order ventilation - perfusion vancomycin-resistant enterococcus vital signs stable ventricular tachycardia varicose veins vessel wall von Willebrand's disease varicella zoster virus

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WB WBC WBR WD WF WIA WID WM WN WNL WO WOP W.P. WPW whole blood white blood cell or count whole body radiation well developed white female wounded in action widow, widower white male well nourished within normal limits written order | weeks old | wide open. without pain whirlpool Wolff-Parkinson-White

W-T-D W/U

wet to dry workup

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X2d XI XII XL XM XMM XOM XRT XS XULN times 2 days. eleven twelve extended release. | extra large. crossmatch xeromammography extraocular movements X-ray therapy (radiation therapy) excessive times upper limit of normal

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YF YLC yo YOB yr ytd yellow fever youngest living child years old year of birth year year to date

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ZDV ZE Z-ESR Zn zidovudine Zollinger-Ellison zeta erythrocyte sedimentation rate zinc

ZnO ZSB

zinc oxide zero stools since birth