Abbreviation/Dose
Expression |
Intended Meaning |
Misinterpretation |
Correction |
Apothecary
symbols |
dram |
Misunderstood
or misread (symbol for dram misread for “3” and minim misread as “mL”). |
Use
the metric system. |
AU |
aurio
uterque (each ear) |
Mistaken
for OU (oculo uterque—each eye). |
Don’t
use this abbreviation. |
D/C |
discharge |
Premature
discontinuation of medications when D/C (intended to mean “discharge”) has
been misinterpreted as “discontinued” when followed by a list of drugs. |
Use
“discharge” and “discontinue.” |
Drug names
|
|
|
Use the complete spelling
for drug names. |
ARAºA |
vidarabine |
cytarabineARAºC |
|
AZT |
zidovudine |
azathioprine |
|
CPZ |
COMPAZINE |
chlorpromazine |
|
DPT |
DEMEROL-PHENERGAN-THORAZINE |
diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus
(vaccine) |
|
HCl |
hydrochloric
acid |
potassium
chloride (The “H” is misinterpreted as “K.”) |
|
HCT |
hydrocortisone |
hydrochlorothiazide |
|
HCTZ |
hydrochlorothiazide |
hydrocortisone
(seen as HCT250 mg) |
|
MgSO4 |
magnesium
sulfate |
morphine
sulfate |
|
MSO4 |
morphine
sulfate |
magnesium
sulfate |
|
MTX |
methotrexate |
mitoxantrone |
|
TAC |
triamcinolone |
tetracaine,
ADRENALIN,cocaine |
|
ZnSO4 |
zinc
sulfate |
morphine
sulfate |
|
Abbreviation/Dose
Expression |
Intended Meaning |
Misinterpretation |
Correction |
Stemmed names
|
|
|
|
“Nitro”
drip |
nitroglycerin
infusion |
sodium
nitroprusside infusion |
|
“Norflox” |
norfloxacin |
NORFLEX |
|
m
g |
microgram |
Mistaken
for “mg” when handwritten. |
Use
“mcg.” |
o.d.
or OD |
once
daily |
Misinterpreted
as “right eye” (OD—oculus dexter)and administration of oral medications in
the eye. |
Use
“daily.” |
TIW
or tiw |
three
times a week. |
Mistaken
as “three times a day.” |
Don’t
use this abbreviation. |
per
os |
orally |
The
“os” can be mistaken for “left eye.” |
Use
“ |
Abbreviation/Dose Expression |
Intended Meaning |
Misinterpretation |
Correction |
q.d.
or QD |
every
day |
Mistaken
as q.i.d., especially if the period after the “q” or the tail of the “q” is
misunderstood as an “i.” |
Use
“daily” or “every day.” |
qn |
nightly
or at bedtime |
Misinterpreted
as “qh” (every hour). |
Use
“nightly.” |
qhs |
nightly
at bedtime |
|
Use
“nightly.” |
q6PM,
etc. |
every
evening at |
Misread
as every six hours. |
Use
|
q.o.d.
or QOD |
every
other day |
Misinterpreted
as “q.d.” (daily) or “q.i.d. (four times daily) if the “o” is poorly written. |
Use
“every other day.” |
sub
q |
subcutaneous |
The
“q” has been mistaken for “every” (e.g., one heparin dose ordered “sub q 2
hours before surgery” misunderstood as every 2 hours before surgery). |
Use
“subcut.” or write “subcutaneous.” |
SC |
subcutaneous |
Mistaken
for SL (sublingual). |
Use
“subcut.” or write “subcutaneous.” |
U
or u |
unit |
Read
as a zero (0) or a four (4), causing a 10‑fold overdose or greater (4U seen
as “40” or 4u seen as 44”). |
“Unit”
has no acceptable abbreviation. Use “unit.” |
IU |
international
unit |
Misread
as IV (intravenous). |
Use
“units.” |
cc |
cubic
centimeters |
Misread
as “U” (units). |
Use
“mL.” |
x3d |
for
three days |
Mistaken
for “three doses.” |
Use
“for three days.” |
BT |
bedtime |
Mistaken
as “BID” (twice daily). |
Use
“hs.” |
ss |
sliding
scale (insulin) or ½ (apothecary) |
Mistaken
for “55.” |
Spell
out “sliding scale.” Use “one-half” or use “½.” |
>
and < |
greater
than and less than |
|
Use
“greater than” or “less than.” |
/
(slash mark) |
separates
two doses or indicates “per” |
Misunderstood
as the number 1 (“25 unit/10 units” read as “110” units. |
Do
not use a slash mark to separate doses. |
Name
letters and dose numbers run together |
Inderal
40 mg |
Misread
as Inderal 140 mg. |
Always
use space between drug name, dose and unit of measure. |
Zero
after decimal point (1.0) |
1
mg |
Misread
as 10 mg if the decimal point is not seen. |
Do
not use terminal zeros for doses expressed in whole numbers. |
No
zero before decimal dose |
0.5
mg |
Misread
as 5 mg. |
Always
use zero before a decimal when the dose is less than a |