Abbreviations

In 2005, The Joint Commission (formerly known as JCAHO) issued a new list of
abbreviations that should not be used but written out to avoid misinterpretation. Compile the
abbreviations commonly used in an institution/hospital with their corresponding meaning.

The Joint Commission’s Official “Do-Not-Use” List

DO NOT USE POTENTIAL PROBEM USE INSTEAD

Mistaken for “0”(zero), the
U (unit) Write “unit”
number “4”(four), or “cc”
Mistaken for
Write “international
IU (international unit) “IV”(intravenous) or the
unit”
number “10”(ten)
Mistaken for each other
Q.D., QD, q.d., qd (daily) Write “daily”
Period after “Q” mistaken for
Q.O.D., QOD, q.o.d., qod Write “every other
“I” and the “O” mistaken for
(every other day) day”
“I”
Trailing zero (X.0 mg) Decimal point is missed Write “X mg”

Lack of leading zero (.X mg) Decimal point is missed Write “0.X mg”
Can mean morphine sulfate or Write “morphine
MS
magnesium sulfate sulfate”
Write “magnesium
MSO4 and MgSO4 Confused for one another
sulfate”
[ CITATION Mar09 \l 1033 ]

Other “Not To Be Used” Abbreviations, Acronyms, and Symbols

In addition, each organization must add at least another three “do not use” abbreviations,
acronyms and symbols to the organization’s “Do Not Use” List. The JCAHO suggests
selecting from the following:
DO NOT USE
ug
H.S. (for half-strength or
bedtime)
T.I.W. (three times a week)
S.C. or S.Q. (subcutaneous)
D/C (discharge)
c.c. (cubic centimeter)
A.S., A.D., A.U. (left, right
POTENTIAL PROBEM USE INSTEAD
Mistaken for
Write “mcg”
“mg”(milligrams)
Mistaken for either half-
strength or hour of sleep at
Write “half-strength”
bedtime
or “at bedtime”
q.H.S. mistaken for every
hour.
Write “3 times
Mistaken for “three times a
weekly” or “three
day” or “twice weekly”
times weekly”
Write “Sub-Q”,
Mistaken for
“subQ” or
“SL”(sublingual) or “5 every”
“subcutaneously”
Mistaken as discontinue
whatever medications follow Write “discharge”
(typically discharge meds)
Write “ml” for
Mistaken for “U”(units)
milliliters
Mistaken for each other Write “left ear”,
 “right ear” or “both
or both ears)
ears” ; “left eye”,
O.S., O.D., O.U. (left, right
“right eye” or “both
or both eyes)
eyes”
Mistakenly used opposite of Use “greater than” or
˃ and <
intended “less than”
Misunderstood as the number
/ (slash mark) 1 (25 unit/10 units read as Use “per”
110 units)
[ CITATION Dai03 \l 1033 ]

Common Abbreviations Used in Pharmacology

ABBREVIATION DEFINITION ABBREVIATION DEFINITION

ac before meals oz ounce

ad lib as desired pc after meals

am, AM before noon pm, PM after noon

bid twice a day PO, po by mouth

cap capsule PR per rectum

comp compound prn as required

D give Q, q each, every

D day Qh, qh every hour

dil dilute q2h every 2 hours

div divide qid four times daily

dos dose Rx take

dr drain S mark
mark, write on the
elix elixir sig
label
ext extract ss one half

fl fluid stat immediately

G, gm gram tab tablet

gr grain tid three time a day

gt (gtt) drop(s) tinct,tr tincture

h hour ung ointment

IM intramuscular c with

IV intravenous s without

M minim
[ CITATION Mar09 \l 1033 ]

References:

Dailey, P. (2003). JCAHO "Forbidden" Abbreviations. CSA.

https://www.csahq.org/docs/default-source/news-and-events-docs/csa-bulletin-
docs/oct-dec-2003/dailey.pdf?sfvrsn=2
Edmunds, M. W. (2009). Introduction to Clinical Pharmacology 6th Edition. Mosby
Elsevier.