Prescription Abbreviations
On prescriptions, you will see abbreviations known as Sig codes. These abbreviations are short-hand for dictating instructions regarding how to take the prescribed medication; however, when entering the data for the prescription label, you should convert the pharmacy Sig codes into everyday language for the patient if the pharmacy software is not already set up to do so. For example, most people outside of the pharmacy might not know what the pharmacy Sig code “BID” means, but they will understand “twice a day.”
Common Sig Codes
| Sig Code | Meaning |
|---|---|
| q | EVERY |
| qH | EVERY HOUR |
| qAM | EVERY MORNING |
| qPM | EVERY EVENING |
| qHS | EVERY BEDTIME |
| qD | EVERY DAY |
| qOD | EVERY OTHER DAY |
| qWK | EVERY WEEK |
| qMO | EVERY MONTH |
| q__° | EVERY___HOURS |
| q__H | EVERY___HOURS |
| BID | TWICE A DAY |
| TID | THREE A DAY |
| QID | FOUR A DAY |
| X_D | TIMES__DAYS |
| TDS | 3 TIMES A DAY |
| C | WITH |
| AC | BEFORE A MEAL |
| PC | AFTER A MEAL |
| HS | AT BEDTIME |
| PRN | AS NEEDED |
| UD | AS DIRECTED |
| AA | OF EACH |
| QS | QUANTITY SUFFICIENT |
| GTT | DROP |
| TBSP | TABLESPOON |
| TSP | TEASPOON |
| OZ | OUNCE |
| GM | GRAM |
| KG | KILOGRAM |
| LB | POUND |
| ML | MILLILITER |
| L | LITER |
| G | GALLON |
| OD | RIGHT EYE |
| OS | LEFT EYE |
| OU | BOTH EYES |
| AD | RIGHT EAR |
| AS | LEFT EAR |
| AU | BOTH EARS |
| PO | BY MOUTH / ORAL |
| SL | SUBLINGUAL |
| NG | NASO GASTRIC |
| BUCCAL | CHEEK/GUM |
| PR | RECTALLY |
| PV | VAGINALLY |
| SUPP | SUPPOSITORY |
| TAB | TABLET |
| CAP | CAPSULE |
| IM | INTRA MUSCULAR |
| SQ | SUBCUTANEOUS |
| IV | INTRAVENOUS |
| IC | INTRA CARDIAC |
| INJ | INJECTION |
| STAT | IMMEDIATELY |