Units
Administration
Drugs
IV Fluids
Diseases Cited in Drug Reference
Professional Organizations
Clinical Reference Acronyms
Miscellaneous
Units
- C = Celsius (Centigrade)
- cm = centimeters
- cu.mm = cubic millimeter
- d = days
- dL = deciliters
- F = Fahrenheit
- fL = femtoliters (10^-15 L)
- hr = hours
- kg = kilograms
- L = liters
- lb = pounds (weight)
- mg = milligrams
- mcg = micrograms
- mCi = microCuries
- min = minutes
- mL = milliliters
- mcL = microliters
- mm = millimeters
- mmol = millimoles
- mth = months
- ng = nanograms
- pg = picograms (10^-12 g)
- pL = picoliters (10^-12 L)
- sec = seconds
- sq.meter = square meter
- umol = micromoles
- wk = weeks
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Administration
- AC = before meals
- PC = after meals
- HS = at bedtime
- PO = by mouth
- PR = per rectum
- PRN = As needed
- ATC = around-the-clock
- Inj = injection
- IM = intramuscular
- IV = intravenous
- IVP = IV push
- IVPB = IV piggyback
- SC = subcutaneous
- ET = endotracheal
- IO = intraosseous
- IT = intrathecal
- qD = once daily
- qOD = every other day
- qWk = once every week
- qMth = once every month
- BID = twice per day
- TID = three times per day
- QID = four times per day
- q = every
- DAW = dispense as written
- STAT = immediately
- TPN = total parenteral nutrition
- NPO = nothing by mouth
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Drugs
- AED = Antiepileptic Drugs
- ABVD = Adriamycin, Bleomycin, Vinblastine, Dacarbazine
- BEACOPP = Bleomycin, etoposide, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine, prednisone
- BZD = benzodiazepine
- CHOP = Cyclophosphamide, Doxorubicin, Vincristine, Prednisone
- COPP = Cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine, prednisone
- DMARD = disease-modifying antirheumatic drug
- EPO = erythropoietin
- ESA = erythropoiesis-stimulating agents
- FOLFOX4 = fluorouracil, leucovorin, oxaliplatin
- HAART = Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy
- IFL = irinotecan, fluorouracil, leucovorin
- MOPP = Mechlorethamine, Vincristine, Procarbazine, Prednisone
- MVAC = Methotrexate, Vinblastine, Doxorubicin, Cisplatin
- NRTI = Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor
- OCP = Oral Contraceptive Pill
- TCA = tricyclic antidepressant
- THC = tetrahydrocannabinol
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IV Fluids
- D5W = Dextrose 5% in water
- D10W = Dextrose 10% in water
- D50W = Dextrose 50% in water
- BWI = Bacteriostatic Water for Injection
- SWI = Sterile Water for Injection
- LR = Lactated Ringer's solution
- NS = Normal Saline (0.9% NaCl)
- NS = 0.45% NaCl
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Diseases Cited in Drug Reference
- ACLS = Advanced Cardiac Life Support
- ACS = Acute Coronary Syndrome
- AECB = Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Bronchitis
- AIDS = Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- ALL = Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
- ALS = Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
- AML = Acute Myelogenous Leukemia
- AOM = Acute Otitis Media
- ARDS = Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome
- ARF = Acute Renal Failure
- BCC = Basal Cell Carcinoma
- BPH = Benign Prostate Hyperplasia
- CABG = Coronary Artery Bypass Graft
- CAD = Coronary Artery Disease
- CDAD = Clsotridiun difficile-Associated Diarrhea
- CHF = Congestive Heart Failure
- CINV = Chemotherapy-induced Nausea & Vomiting
- CLL = Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
- CML = Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia
- COPD = Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
- CRF = Chronic Renal Failure
- CVA = Cerebrovascular Accident
- DIC = Disseminated Intravascular Coagulopathy
- DKA = Diabetic Ketoacidosis
- DM = Diabetes Mellitus
- DVT = Deep Vein Thrombosis
- EPS = Extrapyramidal Symptoms
- ESRD = End-Stage Renal Disease
- GERD = Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
- HDN = Hemolytic Disease of the Newborn
- HTN = Hypertension
- IBS = Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- ICH = Intracranial Hypertension
- IDDM = Insulin-dependent Diabetes Mellitus
- IRS= Immune Reconstitution Syndrome
- ITP = Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura
- IVH = Intraventricular Hemorrhage
- JRA = Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
- MI = Myocardial Infarction
- MOTT = Mycobacteria other than Tuberculosis
- MRSA = Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus
- MSSA = Methicillin-Sensitive Staphylococcus aureus
- MS = Multiple Sclerosis
- NHL = Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma
- NMS = Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome
- NIDDM = Non-Insulin-dependent Diabetes Mellitus
- NSCLC = Non-small Cell Lung Carcinoma
- NSTEMI = Non-ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction
- OA = Osteoarthritis
- PCI = Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
- PCOS = Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
- PID = Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
- PKD = Polycystic Kidney Disease
- PONV = Post-operative Nausea & Vomiting
- PAT = Paroxysmal Atrial Tachycardia
- PSVT = Paroxysmal Supraventricular Tachycardia
- PTCA = Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty
- PUD = Peptic Ulcer Disease
- RA = Rheumatoid Arthritis
- SAH = Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
- SCLC = Small Cell Lung Carcinoma
- SLE = Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
- STEMI = ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction
- SVT = Supraventricular Tachycardia
- TSS = Toxic Shock Syndrome
- USA = Unstable Angina
- VRE = Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus
- VTE = Venous Thromboembolism
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Professional Organizations
- ACCP = American College of Chest Physicians
- AAP = American Academy of Pediatrics
- ACOG = American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists
- ACIP = Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices
- AHA = American Heart Association
- ASA = American Society of Anesthesiologists
- CDC = Centers for Disease Control
- IDSA = Infectious Diseases Society of America
- MHAUS = Malignant Hyperthermia Association of the United States
- SGOC = Society of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists of Canada
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Clinical Reference Acronyms
- AAA = Bedside Ultrasonography, Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
- AB = Elective Abortion
- ABE = Infective Endocarditis
- ABG = Metabolic Acidosis
- ABI = Peripheral Arterial Occlusive Disease
- ACA = Anterior Circulation Stroke
- ACS = Acute Coronary Syndrome
- ADD = Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity/Disorder
- ADHD = Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity/Disorder
- AED = Epilepsy, Juvenile Myoclonic
- AFib = Atrial Fibrillation
- AFl = Atrial Flutter
- AI = Aortic Regurgitation
- AICA = CNS Causes of Vertigo
- AICD = Ventricular Fibrillation
- AIDP = Acute Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyradiculoneuropathy
- AIDS = HIV Disease
- AKA = Alcoholic Ketoacidosis
- ALL = Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
- ALS = Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
- ALTE = Pediatrics, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
- Alzh = Alzheimer Disease
- AMBL = Acute Myelogenous Leukemia
- AMI = Myocardial Infarction
- AML = Acute Myelogenous Leukemia
- AMS = Delirium
- AOM = Middle Ear, Acute Otitis Media, Medical Treatment
- APGAR = Pregnancy, Delivery
- AR = Aortic Regurgitation
- ARC = HIV Disease
- ARDS = Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
- ARF = Renal Failure, Acute
- ARI = Renal Failure, Acute
- ARMD = ARMD, Exudative
- AROM = Pregnancy, Delivery
- AS = Ankylosing Spondylitis and Undifferentiated Spondyloarthropathy
- AS = Aortic Stenosis
- ASD = Atrial Septal Defect
- ASO = Glomerulonephritis, Acute
- ATach = Atrial Tachycardia
- ATLS = Shock, Hemorrhagic
- ATN = Acute Tubular Necrosis
- AV = Aortic Stenosis
- AVB = Atrioventricular Block
- AVM = Arteriovenous Malformations
- AVNRT = Atrioventricular Nodal Reentry Tachycardia (AVNRT)
- AVR = Prosthetic Heart Valves
- AWMI = Myocardial Infarction
- BAL = Wilson Disease
- BCC = Basal Cell Carcinoma
- BCLS = Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
- BiPD = Bipolar Affective Disorder
- BKA = Amputations of the Lower Extremity
- BLS = Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
- BMT = Acute Myelogenous Leukemia
- BOOP = Bronchiolitis
- BoPD = Borderline Personality Disorder
- BPH = Prostate Hyperplasia, Benign
- BPPV = Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo
- BPV = Benign Positional Vertigo
- brady = Sinus Bradycardia
- BRBPR = Lower Gastrointestinal Bleeding
- BRCA = Breast Cancer
- Bronch = Lung Cancer, Non-Small Cell
- BSE = Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease and Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
- BSO = Hysterectomy
- BTL = Tubal Sterilization
- BVAD = Heart Failure
- BVM = Bag-Valve-Mask Ventilation
- C. botulinum = Botulism
- C. difficile = Clostridium difficile Colitis
- CABG = Coronary Artery Atherosclerosis
- CAD = Coronary Artery Atherosclerosis
- CAPD = Renal Failure, Chronic and Dialysis Complications
- cath = Coronary Artery Atherosclerosis
- CCPD = Renal Failure, Chronic and Dialysis Complications
- CF = Cystic Fibrosis
- CFA = Aortoiliac Occlusive Disease
- CHD = Ventricular Septal Defect
- CHF = Heart Failure
- CHI = Closed-Head Trauma
- CIDP = HIV-1-Associated Neuromuscular Complications (Overview)
- CIN = Cervical Cancer
- CIPD = Renal Failure, Chronic and Dialysis Complications
- CJD = Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease and Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
- CLL = Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
- CM = Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic
- CML = Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia
- CMV = Cytomegalovirus
- COPD = Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
- CP = Angina Pectoris
- CP = Cerebral Palsy
- CPD = Renal Failure, Chronic and Dialysis Complications
- CPGN = Glomerulonephritis, Chronic
- CPM = Central Pontine Myelinolysis
- CPR = Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
- CREST = CREST Syndrome
- CRF = Chronic Renal Failure
- CRI = Chronic Renal Failure
- cric = Neck Trauma
- C-sect = Cesarean Delivery
- CVA = Stroke, Ischemic
- CVD = Coronary Artery Atherosclerosis
- CVI = Chronic Venous Insufficiency
- D&C = Abortion, Incomplete
- DAI = Closed-Head Trauma
- DCIS = Breast Cancer
- DCM = Cardiomyopathy, Dilated
- DIC = Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation
- DJD = Osteoarthritis
- DKA = Diabetic Ketoacidosis
- DM = Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2
- DTH = Hypersensitivity Reactions, Delayed
- DTs = Delirium Tremens
- DUB = Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding
- DVT = Deep Venous Thrombosis
- EBV = Infectious Mononucleosis
- EDH = Intracranial Hemorrhage
- EOM = Otitis Media
- EPS = Tardive Dyskinesia
- ESRD = Chronic Renal Failure
- FAST = Abdominal Trauma, Blunt
- FOOSH = Radial Head Fractures
- GBM = Antiglomerular Basement Membrane Disease
- GBS = Streptococcus Group B Infections
- GBS = Guillain-Barr? Syndrome
- GC = Gonococcus
- GCS = Head Injury
- GERD = Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
- GHB = Toxicity, Sedative-Hypnotics
- GIB = Toxicity, Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Agents
- GN = Glomerulonephritis, Acute
- GSW = Abdominal Trauma, Penetrating
- HBO = *no match
- HD = Renal Failure, Acute
- HELLP = Preeclampsia and Eclampsia
- HepB = Hepatitis B
- HepC = Hepatitis C
- HF = Heart Failure
- HF = Hydrofluoric Acid Burns
- HHNK = Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic State
- HIV = HIV Disease
- HOCM = Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic
- HPV = Papillomavirus
- HSP = Pediatrics, Henoch-Sch?nlein Purpura
- HSV = Herpes Simplex
- HUS = Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome
- IABP = Cardiogenic Shock
- IBD = Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- IBS = Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- ICH = Intracranial Hemorrhage
- IDDM = Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1
- IHSS = Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic
- IM = Infectious Mononucleosis
- IMI = Myocardial Infarction
- IN = Nephritis, Interstitial
- IPD = Renal Failure, Acute
- ITP = Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura
- IUD = Pregnancy, Ectopic
- IUFD = Missed Abortion
- IUGR = Preeclampsia and Eclampsia
- IUP = Bedside Ultrasonography, First-Trimester Pregnancy
- JRA = Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
- KUB = Renal Calculi
- LBO = Colonic Obstruction
- LBP = Lumbar Disc Disease
- LCP = Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease
- LGIB = Lower Gastrointestinal Bleeding
- LGL = Lown-Ganong-Levine Syndrome
- LGV = Lymphogranuloma Venereum (LGV)
- LHF = Heart Failure
- Li = Bipolar Affective Disorder
- LP = Lumbar Puncture
- LVAD = Heart Failure
- LVF = Heart Failure
- LVH = Hypertension
- MAC = HIV Disease
- MAI = HIV Disease
- MALT = Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue
- MAOI = Toxicity, Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor
- MAST = Shock, Hypovolemic
- MAT = Multifocal Atrial Tachycardia
- MDD = Bipolar Affective Disorder
- MDI = Asthma
- MDMA = Toxicity, MDMA
- MEN = Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1
- MH = Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome
- MI = Myocardial Infarction
- MOF = Multisystem Organ Failure of Sepsis
- MS = Mitral Stenosis
- MS = Multiple Sclerosis
- MVP = Mitral Valve Prolapse
- NGT = Nasogastric Tube
- NHL = Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin's
- NIDDM = Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2
- NMS = Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome
- NQMI = Myocardial Infarction
- NSCLCA = Lung Cancer, Non-Small-Cell
- NSTEMI = Myocardial Infarction
- OA = Osteoarthritis
- OCD = Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
- OM = Otitis Media
- OSA = Obstructive Sleep Apnea
- pacer = Pacemaker Malfunction
- palps = Mitral Valve Prolapse
- Pap smear = Cervical Cancer
- PBC = Primary Biliary Cirrhosis
- PCI = Acute Coronary Syndrome
- PCKD = Polycystic Kidney Disease
- PCOD = Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
- PCP = Pneumocystis (carinii) jiroveci Pneumonia
- PCP = Toxicity, Phencyclidine
- PD = Renal Failure, Acute
- PEA = Pulseless Electrical Activity
- PHN = Postherpetic Neuralgia
- PID = Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
- PIH = Hypertension and Pregnancy
- PKU = Phenylketonuria
- PLMD = Periodic Limb Movement Disorder
- PMR = Polymyalgia Rheumatica
- PNA = Pneumonia, Bacterial
- pneu = Pneumonia, Bacterial
- preg = Pregnancy, Delivery
- PS = Pulmonic Stenosis
- PS = Pulmonic Valvular Stenosis
- PSA = Prostate Hyperplasia, Benign
- PSC = Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis
- PSG = Obstructive Sleep Apnea
- PSGN = Glomerulonephritis, Poststreptococcal
- PSVT = Paroxysmal Supraventricular Tachycardia
- PTCA = Acute Coronary Syndrome
- PTSD = Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
- PTx = Pneumothorax
- PUD = Peptic Ulcer Disease
- PVC = Premature Ventricular Contraction
- PVD = Peripheral Vascular Disease
- PVE = Infective Endocarditis
- PVOD = Peripheral Arterial Occlusive Disease
- pyelo = Pediatrics, Urinary Tract Infections and Pyelonephritis
- quad = Lower Cervical Spine Fractures and Dislocations
- RA = Rheumatoid Arthritis
- RCM = Cardiomyopathy, Restrictive
- RDS = Pediatrics, Respiratory Distress Syndrome
- rhabdo = Rhabdomyolysis
- RHD = Rheumatic Fever
- RHF = Heart Failure
- RIND = Transient Ischemic Attack
- RMSF = Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
- ROSC = Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
- RPGN = Glomerulonephritis, Rapidly Progressive
- RTA = Metabolic Acidosis
- S. aureus = Staphylococcal Infections
- SAB = Abortion, Complete
- SAD = Depression
- SAH = Intracranial Hemorrhage
- SARS = Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)
- SBE = Infective Endocarditis
- SBO = Obstruction, Small Bowel
- SCC = Squamous Cell Carcinoma
- SCD = Deep Venous Thrombosis
- SCFE = Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis
- SCID = Severe Combined Immunodeficiency
- SCLC = Lung Cancer, Oat Cell (Small Cell)
- SDH = Subdural Hematoma
- SEMI = Myocardial Infarction
- SIADH = Syndrome of Inappropriate Secretion of Antidiuretic Hormone
- SIDS = Pediatrics, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
- SIRS = Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome
- SJS = Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis
- SLE = Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
- SROM = Pregnancy, Delivery
- SSCP = Angina Pectoris
- SSRIs = Depression
- SSS = Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome
- STDs = Gonorrhea
- STEMI = Myocardial Infarction
- SVD = Pregnancy, Delivery
- SVT = Paroxysmal Supraventricular Tachycardia
- Sz = Seizures and Epilepsy, Overview and Classification
- T&A = Tonsillectomy
- TAH = Hysterectomy
- TB = Tuberculosis
- TCA = Depression
- TCC = Transitional Cell Carcinoma, Renal
- TEN = Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis
- THC = Hallucinogens
- THR = Acetabular Wear in Total Hip Arthroplasty
- TI = Tricuspid Regurgitation
- TIA = Transient Ischemic Attack
- TKA = Total Knee Arthroplasty
- TKR = Total Knee Arthroplasty
- TOF = Tetralogy of Fallot
- TR = Tricuspid Regurgitation
- TSS = Toxic Shock Syndrome
- TTP = Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura
- TURP = Transurethral Resection of the Prostate
- UTI = Urinary Tract Infection, Females
- VFib = Ventricular Fibrillation
- VSD = Ventricular Septal Defect
- VTach = Ventricular Tachycardia
- WAP = Multifocal Atrial Tachycardia
- WEE = Western Equine Encephalitis
- WPW = Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome
- XTC = Toxicity, MDMA
- ZE = Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome
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Miscellaneous
- > greater than
- < less than
- ACh = Acetylcholine
- AE = Adverse Event
- ATC = Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification System developed by the World Health Organization
- BTC = Behind-the-Counter
- Cap = capsule
- CECT = Contrast Enhanced Computed Tomography
- CO = Cardiac Output
- CrCl = creatinine clearance
- do = days old
- EGF = Epidermal Growth Factor
- ECT = Electroconvulsive Therapy
- HD = hemodialysis
- HPA = hypothalamus-pituitary axis
- HR = Heart Rate
- IA-DSA=Intra-Arterial Digital Subtraction Angiography
- IELT: Intravaginal Ejaculation Latency Time
- LFT = Liver Function Test
- LMW=Low Molecular Weight
- mo = months old
- NLT = no less than
- NMT = no more than (maximum dose/maximum time period)
- OTC = Over-the-Counter
- PD = peritoneal dialysis
- QS = as much as is required (quantum sufficit)
- RDA = Recommended Daily Allowance
- Rx = Requires Prescription
- SCr = Serum Creatinine
- SR = sustained release
- S/S = signs & symptoms
- Sx = symptoms
- t1/2 = half-life
- TNFalpha = Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha
- Tx = treatment/therapy
- UA = urinalysis
- UL = Tolerable Upper Intake Level
- ULN = upper limit of normal
- UO = urinary output
- VEGF = Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor
- wo = weeks old
- yo = years old
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