Medical Abbreviations

Abbrev.
a.c.
a.d., ad, AD
a.m., am, AM
a.s., as, AS
a.u., au, AU
b.d.s, bds, BDS
b.i.d., bid, bd
gtt., gtt
h., h
h.s., hs
n.p.o., npo, NPO
o.d., od, OD
o.s., os, OS
o.u., ou, OU
p.c.
p.m., pm, PM
p.o., po, PO
p.r., pr, PR
p.r.n., prn, PRN
q.
q.1.d., q1d
q.1.h., q1h
q.2.h., q2h
q.4.h., q4h
q.6.h., q6h
q.8.h., q8h
q.a.m., qAM, qam
q.d., qd
q.h.s., qhs
q.d.s, qds, QDS
q.i.d, qid
q.h., qh
q.o.d., qod
q.p.m., qPM, qpm
q.s., qs
Rx, Rx, ,
Sig., S.
Stat.
t.d.s, tds, TDS
t.i.d., tid
u.d., ud

Meaning
before meals
right ear
morning
left ear
both ears together or each ear
3 times a day
twice a day / twice daily / 2 times daily
drop(s)
hour
at bedtime or half strength
nothing by mouth / not by oral administration
once a day
left eye
both eyes
after food
afternoon or evening
orally / by mouth / oral administration
rectally
as needed
every
every hour
every hour
every 2 hours
every 4 hours
every 6 hours
every 8 hours
every morning
every day / daily
every night at bedtime
4 times a day
4 times a day
every hour, hourly
every other day / alternate days
every afternoon or evening
a sufficient quantity (enough)
prescription
directions
immediately, with no delay, now
3 times a day
3 times a day
as directed