Sig Codes

µg, mcg
microgram

1°, 2°
1 hour, 2 hours, etc.

5x/d
five times daily

a
before

aa
of each

ac
before meals ("before a meal" if once daily dosing)

ad
right ear

ad
as directed (used occasionally in error)

AM
morning

amp
ampules

apl
applicatorful (for vaginal creams)

app
applicator

aq
water

as
left ear

au
both ears

bid
twice daily

bp
blood pressure

c
with

cap
capsule(s)

cc
cubic centimeter (same as milliliter or ml)

cd
cycle day (menstrual cycle)

cid
fives times daily (rarely used now)

cmpd
compound

cr or crm
cream

d
daily or day

DAW
Dispense as Written (no generic)

DC, dc, d/c
discontinue (or discharge from hospital)

disp
dispense

DS
double strength

dx
diagnosis

elix
elixir

eq
equivalent

et
and

fid
five times daily

g, gm
gram

gen
generic

gr
grain, about 60 mg

gtt
drop(s)

h, hr
hour(s)

HD
high dose

hs
at bedtime

IM
intramuscularly (for injectables)

inj
inject, injection

IU
international units

IV
intravenously (for injectables)

liq
liquid

lot
lotion

max
maximum

MDI
(metered dose) inhaler

meq, mEq
milliequivalent(s)

min
minute, or minimum

mo
month

neb
nebulizer

noct
night

npo, NPO
nothing by mouth

nr
no refills

od
right eye

os
left eye

ou
both eyes

oz
ounce

p
after

pc
after meals

pc breakfast
after breakfast

per
per (per day, week, etc)

PM
evening or nighttime

po, os
by mouth

PR, pr
rectally (per rectum)

prn
as needed

PV, pv
in the vagina, vaginally

q
every

q 4 h
every 4 hours

Q 4°-6°
every 4 to 6 hours

q 7 PM
every day at 7 PM

qam
every morning

qd
every day or once daily

qhs
every night at bedtime, at bedtime nightly

qid
four times daily

qn
every night

qod
every other day

qpm
every evening

qs
sufficient amount

r, rec
rectally

rept
repeat

rf
refill(s)

s
without

sc
subcutaneous

sid
once daily (written by veterinarians)

Sig
directions

sl
(dissolve) under the tongue [sublingually]

sol
solution

sq
subcutaneous (for injectables)

ss
one-half

ss
sliding scale (for insulin)

stat
immediately

subq
subcutaneous (for injectables)

sup or supp
suppository

susp
suspension

sx
symptoms

syr
syrup

tab
tablet(s)

tbsp
tablespoonful, tablespoonfuls, 15ml

tea or tsp
teaspoonful, teaspoonfuls, 5 ml

tid
three times daily

tiw
three times weekly (also biw, qiw, etc)

tx
treatment

U, u
unit

ud, utd
as directed

ung
ointment

vag
vaginally, in the vagina

wc
with meals ("with a meal" if once daily dosing)

x3d
for 3 days (or maybe 3 doses, caution)

YO
years old
http://www.pharmcatalyst.com/techs/sigcodespub.pharm [11-10-09]