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May 22, 2024 · Definitions of the top 150 prescription abbreviations, including bid, qhs, po, ad, hs, and tid. Your essential guide to medical terminology.
This is a list of abbreviations used in medical prescriptions, including hospital orders (the patient-directed part of which is referred to as sig codes).
Abbreviation Or SymbolLatin, Greek, Or Neo-latinEnglishPossible Confusiona.d.auris dextraright eara single-storey a can be mistaken as an o ...ad lib.Latin, "at one's pleasure"; as much as ...compare pro re nata, "as needed", which ...a.l., a.s.auris laeva, auris sinistraleft eara can be mistaken as an o which could ...a.u.auris utraqueboth earsa can be mistaken as an o which could ...Jan 20, 2023 · Prescriptions specify a drug or therapy name, dose, form, delivery route, frequency, timing, and purpose. Additionally, they tell the pharmacist how much to dispense and how many refills are available. The tables below summarize the most common abbreviations that appear on prescriptions.
Oct 9, 2024 · If you ever pick up a prescription and see shorthand like these abbreviations, double-check their meaning with the pharmacist to ensure you take your medications as prescribed. There are well over 150 prescription abbreviations.
- Carol Eustice
Abbreviations are used in prescriptions to save time, and space, and reduce errors. However, misinterpreting an abbreviation can lead to serious harm, including overdose or incorrect dosing. Medical abbreviations can have multiple meanings, making it even more essential to understand them correctly.
Sep 7, 2024 · Learn to read a prescription when your healthcare provider uses abbreviations (based on Latin words) that tell your pharmacist which medication to give you.
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Mar 3, 2020 · When your doctor hands you a prescription, it may seem unreadable. But knowing what the abbreviations mean is important – and may even save your life in case of an error. Here are some basic abbreviations to know before handing a prescription to a pharmacist. ā or ante - before. alt - alternate.