Latin abbreviations
Some of the following list are considered non-standardized abbreviations because their meanings could be easily misunderstood
Abbrev. | Meaning | Latin origin |
a.c. | Before food | ante cibum |
a.d. | Right ear | auris dexter |
ad. | Freely as wanted | ad libitum |
a.l. | Left ear | aurix laevus |
alt. die | Every other day | alternus die |
alt. h. | Every other hour | alternus horis |
a.m. | Morning | ante meridiem |
a.n. | Before the night | ante noctum |
aq. | Water | aqua |
a.s. | Left ear | auris sinister |
a.u. | Each ear | auris utro |
aurist. | Ear drops | auristillae |
b.d. or bd | Twice a day | bis die |
b.i.d. or bid | Twice a day | bis in die |
gtt. | Drop | gutta |
h. | Hour | hora |
h.s. | At bedtime | hora somni |
i.d. | during the day | |
i.d. | the same | idem |
I.D. | Infectious Disease | |
i.d. | intradermal, between layers of the skin | |
mane | In the morning | mane |
narist. | Nasal drops | naristillae |
Nocte | At night | nocte |
o.c. | Eye ointment | oculentum |
o.d. or od | Daily | omni die |
o.d. | Right eye | oculus dexter |
o.l. | Left eye | oculus laevus |
o.m. | In the morning | omni mane |
o.n. | At night | omni nocte |
o.s. | Left eye | oculus sinister |
o.u. | Each eye | oculus utro |
p.c. | After food | post cibum |
p.m. | Afternoon | post meridiem |
p.o. or po | Orally | per os |
p.r. | Rectally | per rectum |
p.r.n. | As occasion requires (as needed) | pro re nata |
p.v. | Vaginally | per vaginum |
q. | every | quaque |
q.2.h. | Every two hours | quaque 2 hora |
q.4.h. | Every four hours | quaque 4 hora |
q.6.h. | Every six hours | quaque 6 hora |
q.8.h. | Every eight hours | quaque 8 hora |
q.d. or qd | Every day | quaque die |
q.d.s. | Four times a day | quater die sumendus |
q.h. | Every hour, hourly | quaque hora |
q.i.d. or qid | Four times a day | quater in die |
q.q.h. | Every four hours | quarta quaque hora |
q.s. | A sufficient quantity | quantum sufficiat |
s.i.d. or sid | Once a day | semel in die |
Sig. or S. | Write on the label | signa |
SL. | Sublingual, under the tongue | sub linguam |
Stat. | Immediately, with no delay | statim |
t.d.s. | Three times a day | ter die sumendus |
t.i.d. or tid | Three times a day | ter in die |
top. | Topically, applied to the skin |
|
ut dict. or u.d. | As directed | ut dictum |
ung. | Ointment | unguentum |