Rx: Latin “RECIPE” Meaning “TO TAKE”
Definition: Rx” is an abbreviation for the Latin word “recipe,” which means “take.” It’s often used at the beginning of a prescription to indicate what medication is being prescribed. “Rx” essentially means “take” or “prescription.”
| ABBREVIATIONS | LATIN (WORD/WORDS) | ACTUAL MEANING |
|---|---|---|
| aa | ana | of each |
| ad | ad | up to |
| a.c. | ante cibum | before meals |
| a.d. | auris dextra | right ear |
| ad lib. | ad libitum | use as much as one desires; freely |
| admov. | admove | apply |
| agit | agita | stir/shake |
| alt. h. | alternis horis | every other hour |
| a.m. | Ante Meridiem | morning, before noon |
| amp | ampule | |
| amt | amount | |
| aq | aqua | water |
| a.l., a.s. | auris laeva, auris sinistra | left ear |
| A.T.C. | around the clock | |
| a.u. | auris utraque | both ears |
| bis | bis | twice |
| b.d./b.i.d. | bis in die | twice daily |
| BID | bis in die | twice daily |
| B.M. | bowel movement | |
| bol. | bolus | as a large single dose (usually intravenously) |
| B.S. | blood sugar | |
| B.S.A | body surface areas | |
| BUCC | inside cheek | |
| cap., caps. | capsula | capsule |
| c | cum | with (usually written with a bar on top of the “c”) |
| c | cibos | food |
| cc | cum cibos | with food, (but also cubic centimetre) |
| cf | with food | |
| comp. | compound | |
| cr., crm | cream | |
| D5W | dextrose 5% solution (sometimes written as D5W) | |
| D5NS | dextrose 5% in normal saline (0.9%) | |
| D.A.W. | dispense as written | |
| dc, D/C, disc | discontinue | |
| dieb. alt. | diebus alternis | every other day |
| dil. | dilute | |
| disp. | dispense | |
| div. | divide | |
| d.t.d. | dentur tales doses | give of such doses |
| D.W. | distilled water | |
| elix. | elixir | |
| e.m.p. | ex modo prescripto | as directed |
| emuls. | emulsum | emulsion |
| et | et | and |
| ex aq | ex aqua | in water |
| fl., fld. | fluid | |
| ft. | fiat | make; let it be made |
| g | gram | |
| gr | grain | |
| gtt(s) | gutta(e) | drop(s) |
| H | hypodermic | |
| h, hr | hora | hour |
| h.s. | hora somni | at bedtime |
| ID | intradermal | |
| IM | intramuscular (with respect to injections) | |
| inj. | injectio | injection |
| IP | intraperitoneal | |
| IV | intravenous | |
| IVP | intravenous push | |
| IVPB | intravenous piggyback | |
| L.A.S. | label as such | |
| LCD | coal tar solution | |
| lin | linimentum | liniment |
| liq | liquor | solution |
| lot. | lotion | |
| M. | misce | mix |
| m, min | minimum | a minimum |
| mcg | microgram | |
| m.d.u. | more dicto utendus | to be used as directed |
| mEq | milliequivalent | |
| mg | milligram | |
| mist. | mistura | mix |
| mitte | mitte | send |
| mL | millilitre | |
| nebul | nebula | a spray |
| N.M.T. | not more than | |
| noct. | nocte | at night |
| non rep. | non repetatur | no repeats |
| NS | normal saline (0.9%) | |
| 1/2NS | half normal saline (0.45%) | |
| N.T.E. | not to exceed | |
| OD | Omnie Die | Once daily |
| o_2 | both eyes, sometimes written as o2 | |
| o.d. | oculus dexter | right eye |
| o.s. | oculus sinister | left eye |
| o.u. | oculus uterque | both eyes |
| oz | ounce | |
| per | per | by or through |
| p.c. | post cibum | after meals |
| p.m. | Post Meridiem | evening or afternoon |
| prn | pro re nata | as needed |
| p.o. | per os | by mouth or orally |
| p.r. | by rectum | |
| pulv. | pulvis | powder |
| q | quaque | every |
| q.a.d. | quoque alternis die | every other day |
| q.a.m. | quaque die ante meridiem | every day before noon |
| q.d.s. | quater die sumendus | four times a day |
| q.p.m. | quaque die post meridiem | every day after noon |
| q.h. | quaque hora | every hour |
| q.h.s. | quaque hora somni | every night at bedtime |
| q.1h | quaque 1 hora | every 1 hour; (can replace “1” with other numbers) |
| q.d. | quaque die | every day |
| q.i.d. | quater in die | four times a day |
| q.o.d. | every other day | |
| qqh | quater quaque hora | every four hours |
| q.s. | quantum sufficiat | a sufficient quantity |
| QWK | every week | |
| R | rectal | |
| rep., rept. | repetatur | repeats |
| RL, R/L | Ringer’s lactate | |
| R | right | with |
| TID | Ter In Die | three times a day |
| w/o | without | |
| X | times | |
| Y.O. | years old | |
| I.P. | INDIAN PHARMACOPEIA |