Prescription Abbreviations

Abbreviation is defined as making shorter, or shortened from a word or phrase. Abbreviations make our lives easier every day. Whether you are writing out a date and write Nov. instead of November, or writing out your address and write NY instead of New York, abbreviations save time, energy, effort and ink. For people with busy lives who are always on the go, that few minutes of time saved by writing out an abbreviation can really add up over the course of a lifetime. This may be especially true for doctors, who have to see many patients every day and who may not always have time to write everything out in longhand. As a result, many abbreviations exist in the medical field, from shortened letters used on medical charges to prescription abbreviations. Unfortunately for the layperson who is reading their prescription label, some of these may not always make sense. To put your mind at ease and to make sure you get your medications correct, the following guide to prescription abbreviations should hopefully shed some light on some of the most common prescription abbreviations.

List of Prescription Abbreviations

• Ac: before meals: Don't take that medication after you've stuffed your face with Thanksgiving turkey! Swallow the pills before you hit the table.
• ad lib: as desired. If you don't need one of those magic pills, there's no obligation. This one is important to note, since some medications such as antibiotics should be taken until the prescription runs out, while others can be taken as needed or as desired.
• Bid: twice a day. Take this pill when you brush your teeth every morning and at night if you have to, but whatever you do don't forget to take it twice daily!
• Cap: capsule. Sorry, but that bubble gum flavored liquid is for kids- you're getting your medication in capsule form! 
• d/c: discontinue or discharge. This could be important if you need to discontinue or stop taking medications in the event of certain symptoms, signs or conditions.
• hr: hour. Hour is pretty different from minute or day- if you have to take a pill every 4 hr you better know what hr means!
• H20: water. A common abbreviation found both in the medical field and out! Don't forget your glass of H20 when swallowing your Cap.
• IV: intravenous. This medication won't be taken at home; you'll need an IV for your dose.
• NPO: nothing by mouth. No swallowing pills orally here! Maybe you'll be getting an IV instead.
• OD: right eye: If your eye drop prescription says the drops are for the OD, don't worry, you are reading it correctly despite your eye problems- OD just means right eye.
• OS: left eye: The opposite of right eye, OS stands for the left instead.
• OU: both eyes: Now both your OD and OS are affected!
• PO: by mouth: Those pills can be taken orally instead of by IV. Fortunately, you don't have an NPO order on your chart!
• prn: as needed: Like ad lib, you can decide of your own free will whether you want to take that prescription or not.
• pc: after meals. The opposite of AC. Now you have an excuse to eat that yummy dinner- you need it to take your pills!
• qid: four times a day. Double the fun of Bid!
• Rx: prescription, treatment: The most basic prescription abbreviation of all is the one for the prescription itself.
• s: without. The standard w/o abbreviation used outside the medical field is without attention here. A simple s is used instead. 
• tab: tablet. Instead of a cap, you get your medication in tab form! 

These are some of the most common abbreviations you'll encounter on a prescription pad. Now all you have to do is figure out how to read your doctor's handwriting to decipher them, and you'll be good to go!

If you have any doubts about the meaning of a prescription abbreviation, it is always advisable to consult with your doctor, pharmacist or other medical professional. Only those within the medical field can truly decipher all of the different prescription abbreviations that show up within the industry.