a.c.
before meals
ante cibum
Ā
before
ante
a.m.
before noon
ante meridiem
b.i.d.
twice a day
bis in die
d
day
h
hour
hora
h.s.
at bedtime [spell out bedtime]
hora somni
noc
night
noctis
p
after
post
p.c.
after meals
post cibum
p.m.
after noon
post meridiem
p.r.n.
as needed
pro re nata
q
every
quaque
q.d.
every day [always spell out every day]
quaque dia
qh
every hour
quaque hora
q2h
every 2 hours
q.i.d.
four times a day
quarter in die
q.o.d.
every other day [spell out every other day]
quaque altera die
STAT
immediately
statium
t.i.d.
three times a day
ter in die
wk
week
yr
year
AD
right ear [spell out right ear]
auris dextra
ad lib.
as desired
ad libitum
amt
amount
aq
water
aqua
AS
left ear [spell out left ear]
auris sinistra
AU
both ears [spell out both ears]
auris unitas
c
with
cum
NPO
nothing by mouth
non per os
OD
right eye [spell out right eye]
oculus dexter
OS
left eye [spell out left eye]
oculus sinister
OU
both eyes [spell out both eyes]
oculi unitas
per
by or through
p.o.
by mouth
per os
PR
through rectum
per rectum
PV
through vagina
per vagina
Rx
recipe; perscription
s
without
sine
Sig
label; instruction to the patient
signa
ss
one-half [spell out one-half or 1/2]
semis
wa
while awake
x
times or for; 6x means six times while x2d mean for two days
>
greater than [spell out greater than]
<
less than [spell out less than]