Drug Abbreviations, Labels & Packaging

Before meals

After meals

Everyday/Daily

Twice a day

Three times a day

Four times a day

Every hour

At bedtime/hour of sleep

Every night

immediately

every 2 hours

every 4 hours

every 6 hours

every 8 hours

every 12 hours

Interpreted by days of the month, do not use QOD

As needed, combined with time abbreviations (ex: q4h prn)

Days of the week, 3x weekly

2x weekly, relates to days of the week

Write out which ones (ex: Right ear, left ear, both ears)

handheld nebulizer

intramuscularly

intravenously

intravenous push

intravenous piggyback

metered-dose inhaler

nebulizer

nasogastric tube

Write out each eye(s) (ex: Right eye, left eye, both eyes)

by mouth

in rectum

sublingual, under tongue

must write out: subcutaneously

swish and swallow