A Guide To Common Medical Abbreviations On Prescriptions

As we get older, the likelihood of requiring more medications increases, whether to treat a specific ailment or to keep certain conditions at bay. If you have quite a few prescriptions and want to ensure you know exactly what you’re taking and when to take it, it can help to understand some of the common medical abbreviations used on prescriptions. Knowing these can make medication management easier, and can also help you decipher any medical reports and other documents you may need for your health. 

Here, we are demystifying the many abbreviations you might find on the pill bottles in your medicine cabinet so you can have more autonomy over your body and health. It may help to save this guide for later so you can refer to it whenever you need it.  

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Taking medications 

Knowing exactly how to take certain medications is important, as some should be taken in a specific manner. For example, certain medications can irritate the stomach if taken without food, so these should be taken along with a meal. 

You can use the below list of common abbreviations to determine how to take certain types of medication, but always check this with your prescribing medical practitioner or dispensing pharmacist. Further information can be found in the Patient Information Leaflet supplied with your medicine. 

• a.c. – Before meals
• gtt – Drop(s)
• i – 1 tablet
• ii – 2 tablets
• iii – 3 tablets
• IM – Injection into a muscle
• IV – Intravenous (injection into a vein)
• IVI – Intravenous infusion
• IVP – Intravenous pyelogram (X-ray of your urinary tract)
• M/R – Modified release
• NBM – Nil by mouth
• NPO – Not by oral administration
• NSAID – Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug
• p.c. – After food
• PO – Orally/by mouth
• PR – Rectally
• S/R – Sustained release
• SC – Subcutaneous (injection under the skin)
• stat. – Immediately, with no delay, now

Medical staff

When reading things like your Care Plan and other documents, it can help to understand some of the common abbreviations relating to medical staff who may be involved in your care. 

You can use the below list of common abbreviations to see which medical professional is being referred to, however check this with your doctor if in doubt. 

• AMHP – Approved Medical Health Professional
• CMHN – Community Mental Health Nurse
• CPN – Community Psychiatric Nurse
• FY1 FY2 – cFoundation Doctor
• HCA – Healthcare Assistant
• HCSW – Healthcare Support Worker
• OT – Occupational Therapist
• Physio – Physiotherapist
• RN – Registered Nurse
• RNLD – Learning Disability Nurse
• SLT – Speech and Language Therapist
• SpR – Specialist Registrar

Others

On medical documents you may come across other abbreviations which could be helpful to know. Although there are many more abbreviations used throughout the medical profession, here are a few that could come in handy. 

As above, if in doubt always check the meaning of these with your prescribing medical practitioner. 

• Dx – Diagnosis
• h/o -bHistory of
• Rx – Prescription Treatment
• BMI – Body mass index
• BP – Blood pressure
• CVP – Central venous pressure
• DVT – Deep vein thrombosis
• FBC – Full blood count (a type of blood test)
• Hb – Haemoglobin (a substance in red blood cells that moves oxygen around your body)
• HRT – Hormone replacement therapy
• UTI – Urinary tract infection
• DNACPR – Do not attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation
• DNAR – Do not attempt resuscitation
• DNR – Do not resuscitate