Can You Translate These Common Shorthand Abbreviations Found on a Prescription Pad?

Question 1

What Does The Abbreviation BID Mean On A Prescription?

Question 1

If Your Doctor Writes TID On A Script How Often Should You Take The Medicine?

Question 1

What Is The Meaning Of The Shorthand QID For Medication Frequency?

Question 1

How Should You Take A Medication That Is Labeled PRN?

Question 1

What Method Of Taking Medicine Does The Symbol PO Refer To?

Question 1

What Is The Most Common Meaning For The Famous Rx Symbol?

Question 1

If A Medication Order Is Marked Stat When Should It Be Given?

Question 1

What Unit Of Measurement Is Represented By The Abbreviation MG?

Question 1

Which Volume Measurement Does The Abbreviation ML Stand For?

Question 1

What Form Of Medication Is Referred To By The Abbreviation TABS?

Question 1

What Type Of Medication Container Does CAPS Usually Represent?

Question 1

What Is The Translation Of The Abbreviation QD On A Bottle?

Question 1

What Does The Single Letter Q Mean In Medical Instructions?

Question 1

What Time Measurement Is Indicated By The Abbreviation H?

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If A Medicine Is To Be Taken HS When Should You Take It?

Question 1

When Should You Take A Medication Labeled With The Abbreviation AC?

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What Does The Abbreviation PC Mean Regarding Meal Times?

Question 1

What Does The Widely Known Acronym OTC Stand For?

Question 1

What Does The Abbreviation DX Stand For In A Medical Record?

Question 1

In A Medical Context What Does The Abbreviation HX Mean?

Question 1

If A Liquid Medication Is Measured In GTT What Are They?

Question 1

What Common Kitchen Measurement Is Abbreviated As TSP?

Question 1

What Common Kitchen Measurement Is Abbreviated As TBSP?

Question 1

What Unit Of Weight Is Represented By The Abbreviation OZ?

Question 1

What Does The Shorthand W/ Mean In A Medical Note?

Question 1

What Does The Shorthand W/O Mean In A Medical Note?

Question 1

What Is The Meaning Of The Word SIG On A Prescription?

Question 1

What Does The Abbreviation DAW Stand For On A Prescription?

Question 1

If A Patient Is NPO What Are They Not Allowed To Do?

Question 1

What Frequency Does The Abbreviation QH Represent?

Question 1

How Often Should You Take A Dose Labeled Q2H?

Question 1

If A Medication Label Says Q4H How Often Is It Taken?

Question 1

What Frequency Does The Abbreviation Q6H Describe?

Question 1

When Is A Medication Taken If It Is Labeled QAM?

Question 1

When Should You Take A Medication That Is Marked QPM?

Question 1

What Does The Abbreviation AD Refer To In Ear Care?

Question 1

What Does The Abbreviation AS Refer To In Ear Care?

Question 1

What Does The Abbreviation AU Mean For Ear Medications?

Question 1

What Does The Abbreviation OD Refer To In Eye Care?

Question 1

What Does The Abbreviation OS Refer To In Eye Care?

Question 1

What Does The Abbreviation OU Mean For Eye Medications?

Question 1

What Delivery Method Is Described By The Abbreviation IV?

Question 1

What Delivery Method Is Described By The Abbreviation IM?

Question 1

What Delivery Method Is Described By The Abbreviation SC?

Question 1

How Is A Medication Taken If It Is Marked SL?

Question 1

What Form Of Medication Is Referred To As TOP?

Question 1

What Type Of Medication Delivery Is A SUPP?

Question 1

What Type Of Liquid Medication Is Called A SYR?

Question 1

What Type Of Liquid Medication Is Called A SUSP?

Question 1

What Type Of Sweetened Liquid Medicine Is An ELIX?

Question 1

What Type Of Semi-Solid Skin Medication Is An UNG?

Question 1

What Type Of Liquid Medication Is Called A SOL?

Question 1

What Tiny Unit Of Weight Is Abbreviated As MCG?

Question 1

What Old Unit Of Weight Is Represented By The Abbreviation GR?

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What Small Liquid Measurement Is Abbreviated As DR?

Question 1

What Instruction Does NON REP Give To A Pharmacist?

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What Does The Instruction AD LIB Mean On A Script?

Question 1

What Does The Abbreviation SOS Mean On A Prescription?

Question 1

What Does The Abbreviation AA Mean In A Compound?

Question 1

What Does The Abbreviation AQ Mean For Liquid Forms?

1

Two Times A Day

2

Three Times A Day

3

Four Times A Day

4

Once A Day

This common instruction tells the patient to take their medication twice daily usually in the morning and evening.

1

Three Times A Day

2

Once A Week

3

Every Other Day

4

Twice A Day

Derived from the Latin phrase ter in die this abbreviation instructs the patient to take the dose thrice daily.

1

Four Times A Week

2

Every Four Hours

3

Once Every Four Days

4

Four Times A Day

When a doctor writes QID it means the patient needs to take the medication four times every single day.

1

As Needed

2

Before Bedtime

3

With Food Only

4

Every Morning

This abbreviation stands for pro re nata which means to take the medication only when it is actually needed.

1

Under The Tongue

2

By Mouth

3

By Injection

4

Through The Skin

The letters PO mean that the medication should be taken by mouth rather than through any other medical route.

1

Prescription

2

Relaxation

3

Reaction

4

Receipt

The symbol Rx is thought to be derived from the Latin word recipe which simply means to take.

1

Immediately

2

Tomorrow Morning

3

After Dinner

4

In One Hour

Medical staff use the term Stat when a medication or action is needed instantly without any delay at all.

1

Meters

2

Micrograms

3

Magnesium

4

Milligrams

Milligrams are the standard unit used to measure the weight of the active ingredient in most common pill medications.

1

Moles

2

Millimeters

3

Milliliters

4

Miles

Milliliters are used to measure the volume of liquid medications such as cough syrups or other liquid oral doses.

1

Tablespoons

2

Tapping

3

Tablets

4

Tube

Tablets are solid forms of medication that are typically swallowed whole or sometimes crushed for easier consumption by patients.

1

Cups

2

Capsules

3

Caplets

4

Capping

Capsules are a specific form of medication where the drug is enclosed in a small gelatin or plastic shell.

1

Quick Dose

2

Quarter Day

3

Every Day

4

Every Other Day

While no longer recommended for official use QD is a traditional shorthand that indicates a medication is taken daily.

1

Quiet

2

Quickly

3

Every

4

Quantity

In the world of prescriptions the letter Q is a shorthand for the Latin word quaque which means every.

1

Heart

2

Hour

3

High

4

Half

The letter H is the standard medical shorthand used to denote an hour when scheduling a dose of medication.

1

In The Morning

2

Half Strength

3

At High Speed

4

At Bedtime

The abbreviation HS stands for hora somni which translates from Latin to mean at the hour of sleep tonight.

1

After Coffee

2

At Noon

3

Always Cold

4

Before Meals

Prescriptions marked AC should be taken before you eat a meal to ensure the medication works as it should.

1

After Meals

2

Prescription Change

3

Per Cup

4

Primary Care

Derived from the Latin post cibum this shorthand tells the patient to take their medication after they have eaten.

1

On The Calendar

2

Only Two Capsules

3

Other Treatment Choices

4

Over The Counter

Over the counter drugs are medications that can be purchased at a pharmacy without a written prescription from doctors.

1

Diagnosis

2

Distance

3

Dose

4

Danger

Medical professionals use the shorthand DX when they are recording the formal diagnosis of a patient's specific health condition.

1

Hazard

2

Hours

3

Hexagon

4

History

The letters HX are used by healthcare providers to refer to the medical history of a patient being treated.

1

Gills

2

Drops

3

Grains

4

Gallons

The abbreviation GTT comes from the Latin word guttae and is used to measure liquid medication in small drops.

1

Total Spice

2

Teaspoonful

3

Tablespoon

4

Teaspoon

A teaspoon is a standard unit of volume often used for measuring small doses of liquid medication at home.

1

Tablespoon

2

Teaspoon

3

Tablet Size

4

Total Bottle

The tablespoon is a larger unit of volume measurement commonly used for dosing liquids like syrups or liquid antacids.

1

Only Zero

2

Ozone

3

Ounce

4

Orizon

Ounces are a traditional unit of weight or volume measurement still found on some liquid medication bottles and labels.

1

Weight

2

With

3

Weak

4

Water

A lowercase letter W with a slash is a very common shorthand way to write the word with quickly.

1

Without

2

Wash Out

3

Work Out

4

Weight Only

A lowercase letter W followed by a slash and an O is the standard medical shorthand for the word without.

1

Directions

2

Signature

3

Significant

4

Signal

The word Sig is short for signa and it precedes the specific directions for how to use the medication.

1

Dose At Will

2

Daily And Weekly

3

Dispense As Written

4

Do Always Wash

When a doctor writes DAW it means the pharmacist must provide the specific brand name drug rather than generic.

1

Talk

2

Sleep

3

Walk

4

Eat Or Drink

NPO stands for nil per os which means a patient cannot have anything to eat or drink by mouth.

1

Quarter Hour

2

Quick Half

3

Quite Healthy

4

Every Hour

The abbreviation QH means a medication should be taken every hour which is often necessary for certain intensive treatments.

1

Twice Per Hour

2

Every Second Day

3

Every Two Hours

4

Two Times Hourly

This shorthand indicates that the patient should receive a dose of their medication every two hours around the clock.

1

Every Four Hours

2

Four Times Daily

3

Every Fourth Day

4

Four Hours Total

The instruction Q4H means the dose should be repeated every four hours to maintain the proper level of medicine.

1

Six Times Daily

2

Every Six Hours

3

Six Hours Total

4

Every Saturday

A medication marked Q6H is intended to be taken four times a day at six hour intervals for consistent effect.

1

Every Morning

2

Quickly At Midday

3

Quite A Mess

4

Every After Midnight

The abbreviation QAM means the medication should be taken once every morning to help manage the patient's health condition.

1

Every Evening

2

Every Past Midday

3

Quickly Per Minute

4

Quite Poorly Managed

Prescriptions marked QPM are intended to be taken once every evening to ensure the medicine works during the night.

1

All Day

2

Right Ear

3

Active Dose

4

After Dinner

The abbreviation AD stands for auris dextra which is the Latin term used to refer to the right ear.

1

All Sides

2

Left Ear

3

As Specified

4

After Soup

The letters AS stand for auris sinistra which is the Latin term for the left ear in medical contexts.

1

Always Used

2

As Usual

3

Both Ears

4

Around Us

The abbreviation AU stands for auris uterque which means the medication is intended to be used in both ears.

1

Over Dose

2

Only Day

3

Right Eye

4

Once Daily

The abbreviation OD stands for oculus dexter which is the standard Latin term for the patient's right eye.

1

Left Eye

2

Other Side

3

Only Sunday

4

Once Soon

The abbreviation OS stands for oculus sinister which is the Latin term used to refer to the left eye.

1

Both Eyes

2

Over Under

3

Once Weekly

4

Often Used

The abbreviation OU stands for oculus uterque which means the medication should be applied to both of the eyes.

1

Intravenous

2

Intraventricular

3

Into Vein

4

In View

The abbreviation IV stands for intravenous which means the medication is delivered directly into a vein through a needle.

1

In Morning

2

Intra-Medial

3

In Mouth

4

Intramuscular

The abbreviation IM stands for intramuscular which means the medication is injected directly into a large muscle of the body.

1

Subcutaneous

2

Second Coat

3

Should Call

4

Skin Care

The abbreviation SC stands for subcutaneous which means the medication is injected into the fatty tissue layer under the skin.

1

Small Lot

2

Slowly

3

Under The Tongue

4

Skin Layer

The abbreviation SL stands for sublingual which means the medication should be dissolved under the tongue for rapid absorption.

1

Tablet Or Pill

2

To Oral

3

Topical

4

Time Of Prescription

Topical medications are applied directly to the surface of the skin or mucous membranes rather than being swallowed whole.

1

Suppository

2

Supplement

3

Support

4

Supply

A suppository is a solid medication that is inserted into a body opening where it dissolves and is absorbed.

1

Symptom

2

Syrup

3

Syringe

4

System

Syrup is a thick liquid medication that usually contains sugar or a sugar substitute to help make it palatable.

1

Suspect

2

Suspension

3

Suspense

4

Supportive

A suspension is a liquid medication where the drug particles are mixed but not completely dissolved in the liquid.

1

Example

2

Exit

3

Exercise

4

Elixir

An elixir is a clear sweetened liquid medication that usually contains alcohol and water to help dissolve the drug.

1

Un-Grown

2

Under

3

Unit

4

Ointment

The abbreviation UNG stands for unguentum which is the Latin term for a semi-solid ointment applied to the skin.

1

Solitary

2

Solar

3

Solution

4

Solid

A solution is a liquid medication where the active drug is completely and evenly dissolved throughout the liquid base.

1

Micrograms

2

Milligrams

3

Mega Grams

4

Many Centigrams

A microgram is a very small unit of weight measurement that is equal to one one-millionth of a gram.

1

Grains

2

Green

3

Great

4

Grams

Grains are an ancient unit of weight measurement that is occasionally still used for certain older medication dosing calculations.

1

Drum

2

Dram

3

Dry

4

Drop

A dram is a small unit of liquid volume that was more commonly used in older pharmaceutical and medical practices.

1

No Reports

2

No Response

3

Do Not Refill

4

None Repeat

The instruction non rep is short for non repetatur which means the prescription should not be refilled or repeated.

1

At Library

2

As Desired

3

All Libido

4

After Lunch

The Latin phrase ad libitum is shortened to ad lib and means the patient can use it as desired.

1

If Necessary

2

Some On Sunday

3

Save Our Souls

4

Seek Other Service

The abbreviation SOS stands for si opus sit which means the medication should be taken only if it is necessary.

1

Always Active

2

Of Each

3

After All

4

Around All

The abbreviation AA stands for ana which means of each ingredient listed in the medical formula for the patient.

1

Air Quality

2

Water

3

Always Quick

4

Aqua

The abbreviation AQ stands for aqua which is the Latin word for water used as a base for liquids.

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Ever wonder what those mysterious scribbles on your prescription pad actually mean? Test your medical knowledge with this fun quiz on common pharmacy abbreviations to see if you can decode your doctor's shorthand like a seasoned healthcare professional!

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