Pharmacy

Abbreviations Meaning Memory keys

aa of each two as are vowels; so are the
beginning of the words

ac before meals piece of cake after meals; but a comes

before p

a.d. right ear right ear is a dumb ear; a for auditory

ad lib as needed or desired ad lib song

AM, am morning common use

amp ampule 1st 3 letters are same

app apply 1st 3 letters are same

a.s. left ear left ear is a smart ear; a for auditory

asap as soon as possible common use

aqua liquid, water aqua

au both ears all understood with both ears; aures utrae

b.i.d. twice a day bi- two a day

BM bowel movement common use

BP blood pressure initials are same

Ca calcium 1st2 letters are same

cap capsule 1st 3 letters are same

CBC complete blood count 1st 3 letters are same

Cl chlorine 1st 2 letters are same

comp compound 1st 4 letters are same

D/C discharge Discharge is a bigger thing than

discontinuing a drug

Dc, disc, d/c discontinue Discontinuing is smaller thing than a

discharge

disp dispense 1st 4 letters are same

dos dose 1st 3 letters are same

DR, MD doctor common use

Dr, 3 dram A lot of dramas are played on Ch.3

DX diagnosis common use

ECG, EKG electrocardiogram common use

EENT ear eye nose throat Initials are same as words

elix elixir 1st 3 letters are same

emul emulsion 1st 4 letters are same

et and French word for and

Etoh alcohol sounds the same

Exp expired 1st 3 letters are same

Fe iron for everything iron out problems

FDA Food and Drug Administration Initials are same as words

Fl, fld fluid 1st 2 letters are same

g gram common use; gee gram, what small eyes you

have

gr grain 1st 2 letters are same; grain makes you gr…

gtt drop leaky gutters make rain drops

H2O water common use

h.s. hour of sleep/bedtime hour of sleep

Hx history ex boy/girlfriend is history

IEN Into each nostrils Initials are same as words

IM Intramuscular I’m in pain from Twinix shots in

muscle!

inj injection 1st 3 letters are same

IT intrathecal It – into the cal

IU International Unit Initials are same as words

IV intravenous common use

K potassium Special K cereal has some potassium in it

L liter common use

Lb, # pound common use

liq liquid 1st 3 letters are same

lot lotion 1st 3 letters are same

mcg microgram microwave cool goodies

mEq milliequivalent you’re on your own here

Mg magnesium Mag means big, use big letter for magnesium

mg milligram milligram is a little measurement; use small

letter

Mitte send of such need a mitten to make and send a snowball

mm millimeter common use

Na sodium Do you want salt? Nah

NaCl sodium chloride Nah to salt and chloride too

neb. nebules 1st 3 letters are same

NKA no known allergies 1st 3 letters are same

NKDA no known drug allergies 1st 4 letters are same

NR no repeat No Repeat

NS normal saline In NS, we have normal salt water

NPO nothing by mouth No popping Oreos into your mouth

NSAID nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug No steroids to aid with

inflammations

od daily doing it daily no big thing; small letters

OD right eye big letters for big round eyes, O; right eye is
dumb

O/L oral liquid over load on liquid, use big letters

OS left eye big letters for big round eyes, O; left

eye is smart
OTC over the counter obvious common use

OU each eye big letters for big round eyes, O see everything, understand
everything

oz ounce common use

p after post, after

pc after meals piece of cake after meal

per rect., pr rectally 1st 3 letters, initials are same;

PR is crap, from rectum

prn whenever necessary please run now; whenever necessary

prn pain whenever necessary , for pain

prn itching whenever necessary , for itch

prn tuss whenever necessary , for cough

q every common use

q2h every 2 hours common use

q4h every 4 hours common use

q.a.m. every morning common use

qh every hour common use

qod every other day common use

q.p.m. every evening common use

qs sufficient quantity common use

qt quart common use

qty quantity common use

R/O rule out major stuff, big letters rule out

RR Recovery Room A room for rest and relaxation to

recover from stress

rep repeat exercise reps, repeating action

Rx prescription, recipe common use

Sig label, let it be printed doc’s signature, note tells us to read
the label

Sl, S/L, subling sublingual same sound

SOB shortness of breath When you sob, you usually can’t breathe
properly

sol solution 1st 3 letters are same

SQ, SC subcutaneous; under skin Sea Quest; Sea creatures gets under
my skin

ss one- half semis = half

spar sparingly 1st 4 letters are same

stat immediately common use in hospitals

supp suppository 1st 4 letters are same

SWI sterile water for injection 1st 3 letters are same, swish with water

syr syrup 1st 3 letters are same

tab/s tablets 1st 3 letters are same

tbsp tablespoonful common use

temp temperature 1st 4 letters are same

tid three times a day tri- or three in a day

tr, tinc tincture 1st 4 letters are same

trit triturate 1st 4 letters are same

tsp teaspoon common use

tuss cough Tussin is a cough medicine

u.d, u, dict as directed understand dude? Use as directed

UF until finished common use

ung ointment I’ll be needing that ointment for that fungus

UTI urinary tract infection initials, not a cutie thing here

V, Vag vaginal pretty obvious here

VO verbal order voice over phone, verbal order

vol volume 1st 3 letters are same