Prescription Abbreviations
(SIG CODES)

Also known as "Sig Codes", Prescription abbreviations are basically coded instructions from a health-care professional. The code is used to supply the words while Roman Numerals are sometimes used for the numbers. These should be memorized to prepare for the PTCB or ExCPT exams.

Common Pharmacy Abbreviations
These must be memorized (mandatory)

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




The most difficult pharmacy abbreviations to remember are the eyes and ears. They are very easy to mix up, especially because they seem to make no sense.

Try this:
When you see the O, think of an EYE which is round.
For the A, remember it as "Audio" which is heard through your EARS.
For S, think of "South" and Left handed boxers being dubbed southpaw.
When you see U, imagine it as a face, needing both eyes or ears.



More Prescription Abbreviations



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 - SUB-LINGUAL
NG - NASO GASTRIC
BUCCAL - CHEEK/GUM
PR - RECTALLY
PV - VAGINALLY
SUPP - SUPPOSITORY
TAB - TABLET
CAP - CAPSULE
IM - INTRA MUSCULAR
SQ - SUB-CUTANEOUS
IV - INTRAVENOUS
IC - INTRA CARDIAC
INJ - INJECTION
STAT - IMMEDIATELY




Again, it is vital to
memorize prescription abbreviations in order to prepare for the PTCB or ExCPT exams. One of the most common tasks performed by pharmacy technicians is decoding prescription orders and translating them into dosages and directions to place on the patients medication packaging.


Have you learned Generic Drug Suffixes yet ?



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