Latin Terms and Abbreviations PDF

PHARCARE 4
DISPENSING AND MEDICATION COUNSELING
Learning Module on
Review of Latin terms and
Abbreviations
Objective
• To understand the latin terms and common abbreviations used in the
field
• To be able to apply it in the provision of safe, stable, effective and
economical drug products
• To employ critical thinking skills in prescription analysis
Abbreviations Used on Prescriptions
Abbreviations Used on Prescriptions
Drug Allergies
Strength
Drug form
Directions: Dose
Directions: Route
Frequency
Directions: frequency modifiers and
miscellaneous
Indications
Laboratory Values
Laboratory Values
Practice
(Write out the directions that you would place on the prescription label for the
patient)
1. Septra DS #20: i po BID x 10 days

2. Kaolin-Pectin 8oz: ã i-ii po q loose stool Your label
3. Nitroglycerin 0.4mg #100: i SL prn CP. MR q5min x 2
4. Ventolin Syrup 4oz: å i po TID prn SOB, wheezing
5. Amoxicillin 125mg/5ml 100ml: 2.5ml po TID x 10 days
Activity
(Interpret the ff. order and write the complete phrase of the
abbreviations )
1. Nembutal 100 mg hs prn po
2. Propranolol hydrochloride 40 mg po bid
3. Ampicillin 1 g IVPB q6h
4. Demerol 50 mg IM q4h prn for pain Submit this as a document in the assigned
5. Tylenol 325 mg tabs ii po stat assignment portal. This is a group work.
6. Pilocarpine gtt ii po stat
7. Scopolamine 0.8 mg SC stat
8. Milk of magnesia 1 tbsp po hs qn
9. Septra DS tab I qd po
10. Gtt ii OU q4h prn pain
Unsafe Medical
Abbreviations
Abbreviations Intended Meaning Misinterpretation Correction
μg Microgram Mistaken as "mg" Use "mcg"
AD, AS, AU Right ear, left ear, each ear Mistaken as OD, OS, OU Use "right ear," "left ear," or
(right eye, left eye, each eye) "each ear"
OD, OS, OU Right eye, left eye, each eye Mistaken as AD, AS, AU (right Use "right eye," "left eye," or
ear, left ear, each ear) "each eye"
BT Bedtime Mistaken as "BID" (twice daily) Use "bedtime"
cc Cubic centimeters Mistaken as "u" (units) Use "mL"
D/C Discharge or discontinue Premature discontinuation of Use "discharge" and
medications if D/C (intended "discontinue"
to mean "discharge") has
been misinterpreted as
"discontinued" when followed
by a list of discharge
medications
IJ Injection Mistaken as "IV" or Use "injection"
"intrajugular"
IN Intranasal Mistaken as "IM" or "IV" Use "intranasal" or "NAS"
HS Half-strength Mistaken as bedtime Use "half-strength" or
"bedtime"
hs At bedtime, hours of sleep Mistaken as half-strength
IU** International unit Mistaken as IV (intravenous) Use "units"
or 10 (ten)
o.d. or OD Once daily Mistaken as "right eye" (OD- Use "daily"
oculus dexter), leading to oral
liquid medications
administered in the eye
OJ Orange juice Mistaken as OD or OS (right Use "orange juice"
or left eye); drugs meant to be
diluted in orange juice may be
given in the eye
q.d. or QD** Every day Mistaken as q.i.d., especially if Use "daily"
the period after the "q" or the
tail of the "q" is misunderstood
as an
qhs Nightly at bedtime Mistaken as "qhr" or every Use "nightly"
hour
qn Nightly or at bedtime Mistaken as "qh" (every hour) Use "nightly" or "at bedtime"
q.o.d. or QOD** Every other day Mistaken as "q.d." (daily) or Use "every other day"
"q.i.d. (four times daily) if the
"o" is poorly written
q1d Daily Mistaken as q.i.d. (four times Use "daily"
daily)
q6PM, etc. Every evening at 6 PM Mistaken as every 6 hours Use "6 PM nightly" or "6 PM
daily"
SC, SQ, sub q Subcutaneous SC mistaken as SL Use "subcut" or
(sublingual); SQ mistaken as "subcutaneously"
"5 every;" the "q" in "sub q"
has been mistaken as "every"
(e.g., a heparin dose ordered
"sub q 2 hours before surgery"
misunderstood as every 2
hours before surgery)
ss Sliding scale (insulin) or ½ Mistaken as "55" Spell out "sliding scale;" use
(apothecary) "one-half" or "½"
SSRI Sliding scale regular insulin Mistaken as selective- Spell out "sliding scale
serotonin reuptake inhibitor (insulin)"
SSI Sliding scale insulin
Mistaken as Strong Solution of
Iodine (Lugol's)
i/d One daily Mistaken as "tid" Use "1 daily"
TIW or tiw 3 times a week Mistaken as "3 times a day" or Use "3 times weekly"
"twice in a week"
U or u** Unit Mistaken as the number 0 or Use "unit"
4, causing a 10-fold overdose
or greater (e.g., 4U seen as
"40" or 4u seen as "44");
mistaken as "cc" so dose
given in volume instead of
units (e.g., 4u seen as 4cc)
DRUG Abbreviations Intended Meaning Misinterpretation Correction
HCl hydrochloric acid or Mistaken as potassium Use complete drug name
hydrochloride chloride unless expressed as a salt of
(The "H" is misinterpreted as a drug
"K")
HCT hydrocortisone Mistaken as Use complete drug name
hydrochlorothiazide
HCTZ hydrochlorothiazide Mistaken as hydrocortisone Use complete drug name
(seen as HCT250 mg)
MgSO4** magnesium sulfate Mistaken as morphine sulfate Use complete drug name
MS, MSO4** morphine sulfate Mistaken as magnesium Use complete drug name
sulfate
PCA procainamide Mistaken as patient controlled Use complete drug name
analgesia
PTU propylthiouracil Mistaken as mercaptopurine Use complete drug nam
Symbols Intended Meaning Misinterpretation Correction
Dram Symbol for dram mistaken as "3" Use the metric system
Minim Symbol for minim mistaken as "mL"
x3d For three days Mistaken as "3 doses" Use "for three days"
> and < Greater than and less than Mistaken as opposite of intended; Use "greater than" or "less
mistakenly use incorrect symbol; "< than"
10" mistaken as "40"
/ Separates two doses or Mistaken as the number 1 (e.g., "25 Use "per" rather than a
(slash indicates "per" units/10 units" misread as "25 units slash mark to separate
mark) and 110" units) doses
@ At Mistaken as "2" Use "at"
& And Mistaken as "2" Use "and"
+ Plus or and Mistaken as "4" Use "and"
° Hour Mistaken as a zero (e.g., q2° seen as Use "hr," "h," or "hour"
q 20)
References:
https://consumermedsafety.org/tools-and-resources/medication-
safety-tools-and-resources/know-your-medicine/unsafe-medical-
abbreviations

Latin Terms and Abbreviations PDF

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Latin Terms and Abbreviations PDF

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Latin Terms and Abbreviations PDF

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

PHARCARE 4

DISPENSING AND MEDICATION COUNSELING

1. Septra DS #20: i po BID x 10 days

Minim Symbol for minim mistaken as "mL"

You might also like