Commonly Used Abbreviations....

ABGs arterial blood gases
ac before meals
ACE angiotensin-converting enzyme
ADH antidiuretic hormone
A-G ratio albumin-globulin ratio
AHF antihemolytic factor
ALT alanine aminotransferase
ANA antinuclear antibodies
ANC absolute neutrophil count
AST aspartate aminotransferase
ATP adenosine triphosphate
AV atrioventricular
bid two times a day
BMI body mass index
BP blood pressure
bpm beats per minute
BSA body surface area
BUN blood urea nitrogen
cap capsule
CBC complete blood count
CCr creatinine clearance
CHF congestive heart failure
COMT catechol-O-methyltransferase
CNS central nervous system
CPK creatine phosphokinase
CR controlled-release
CSF colony-stimulating factor; cerebrospinal fluid
CT computed tomography
CV cardiovascular
CVP central venous pressure
D5/LR 5% dextrose and lactated Ringer's solution
D5/0.9% NaCl 5% dextrose and 0.9% NaCl; 5% dextrose and normal saline
D5/0.25% NaCl 5% dextrose and 0.25% NaCl; 5% dextrose and quarter normal saline
D5/0.45% NaCl 5% dextrose and 0.45% NaCl; 5% dextrose and half normal saline
D5W 5% dextrose in water
D10W 10% dextrose in water
Derm dermatologic
dl deciliter
DMARD disease-modifying antirheumatic drug
DNA deoxyribonucleic acid
DVT deep vein thrombosis
ECG electrocardiogram
ECMO extracorporeal membrane oxygenation
EENT eye, ear, nose, and throat
Endo endocrine
ER extended-release
ESRD end-stage renal disease
F and E fluid and electrolyte
g gram(s)
GABA gamma-aminobutyric acid
GERD gastroesophageal reflux disease
GFR glomerular filtration rate
GI gastrointestinal
G6PD glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase
gt(t) drop(s)
GTT glucose tolerance test
GU genitourinary
Hb A1c hemoglobin A1c, glycosylated hemoglobin
HDL high-density lipoproteins
Hemat hematologic
HF heart failure
hr(s) hour(s)
HR .........heart rate
HRT hormone replacement therapy
IA intra-articular
IL intralesional
IM intramuscular
Inhaln inhalation
INR international normalized ratio
IPPB intermittent positive-pressure breathing
IS intrasynovial
IT intrathecal
IV intravenous
K potassium
KCl potassium chloride
kg kilogram
L liter
LA long-acting
LDH lactic dehydrogenase
LDL low-density lipoproteins
LR lactated Ringer's solution
M molar
MAOI monoamine oxidase inhibitor
mcg microgram(s)
MDI metered dose inhaler
mEq milliequivalent
Metab metabolic
mg milligram(s)
min(s) minute(s)
Misc miscellaneous
ml milliliter(s)
mM millimole
MRI magnetic resonance imaging
MS musculoskeletal
MUGA multiple-gated (image) acquisition (analysis)
Na sodium
NaCl sodium chloride
0.9% NaCl 0.9% sodium chloride, normal saline
Neuro neurologic
NPO nothing by mouth
NS sodium chloride, normal saline (0.9% NaCl)
NSAIDs nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
OCD obsessive-compulsive disorder
Oint ointment
Ophth ophthalmic
OTC over-the-counter
pc after meals
PCA patient-controlled analgesia
PO by mouth, orally
prn as needed
PT prothrombin time
PTT partial thromboplastin time
PVC premature ventricular contraction
q every
qid four times a day
q 2 hr every 2 hours
q 3 hr every 3 hours
q 4 hr every 4 hours
RBC red blood cell count
Rect rectally or rectal
REM rapid eye movement
Resp respiratory
RTU ready to use
Rx prescription
SA sinoatrial
subcut subcutaneous
sec(s) second(s)
SL sublingual
SR sustained-release
SSRI(s) selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor(s)
stat immediately
supp suppository
tab tablet
tbsp tablespoon(s)
tid three times a day
Top topically or topical
tsp teaspoon(s)
UK unknown
Vag vaginal
VF ventricular fibrillation
VLDL very low-density lipoproteins
VT ventricular tachycardia
WBC white blood cell count
wk(s) week(s)
yr(s) year(s)