• Rx---prescription
• q---every q. 2 hr., 4 hr. etc
• q.d.---every day
• q.o.d.---every other day
• b.i.d.---twice a day
• t.i.d.---three times a day
• q.i.d.---four times a day
• q.h.---hour of sleep
• p.r.n.---as needed
• P.O.---by mouth
• I.M.---intramuscularly ( in the muscle)
• S.C. subcutaneously (under the skin)
• I.V.---intravenously (in a vein)
• D/W---dextrose in water
• BP---blood pressure
• BM--bowel movement
• BUN---blood urea nitrogen (blood test for kidney function)
• cm.---centimeter
• CBC---complete blood count
• CNS---central nervous system
• CPK---creatine phosphokinase
• CVA---cerebrovascular accident (stroke)
• ECG---electrocardiogram
• EEG---electroencephalogram
• EST---erythrocyte sedimentation rate (sed rate)
• FBS---fasting blood sugar
• GTT---glucose tolerance test
• GI---gastrointestinal Gm.---gram
• GU---genitourinary Hgb---hemoglobin
• Hct---hematocrit
• Hg---mercury
• H2O2---hydrogen peroxide
• IVP---intravenous pyelogram ( IV with dye then X-ray for kidney function)
• I.U.---international units
• K---potassium
• Na---sodium ml.---milliliter
• NIH---National Institute of Health
• RBC---red blood cell
• WBC---white blood cell
• RA---rheumatoid arthritis
• RF---rheumatoid factor
• SLE---systemic lupus erythematosus
• SGOT---serum glutamic oxalacetic transaminase ( liver enzyme, blood test)
• SGPT---serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (same)
• sp.gr.---specific gravity (urine)
• UTI---urinary tract infection
• URI--upper respiratory tract infection ( e.g. cold)
• USP---United Stated Pharmacopeia
• PDR---Pysicians Desk Reference
• USPHS---United States Public Health Service
• WHO---World Health Organization

A
AP- antibiotic protocol
ARD-acute respiratory disease
ANA-anitibody nuclear ratio
ama- against medical advice
AS- Anklosing Spondylitis

B
BMR- basal metabolism rate
BM -bowel movement
b.i.d.- twice a day

C
CBC- complete blood count
CNS- central nervous system
CVA- cerebral vascular accident-stroke
CA- Colitic Arthritis- Cancer

D
diff- differential blood count
DMARD-disease modifying arthritis drug
DLE- Dissemanted Lupus Erythematosus

E
ECG-electrocardiogram (EKG)
EEG- electroencephlogram
EENT- eye, ear, nose and throat
EMS- emergency medical searvices
ESR-erythrocyte sedimentation rate

F
FBS- fasting blood sugar
Fe- iron
FMS- fibromyalgia syndrome
FM-fibromyalgia

G
GP- general practitioner

H
Hg or Hb- hemeglobin
H2O2- peroxide
hd or hs- at bedtime
herx- herxheimer reaction

I
ICU- intensive care unit
IM- intramuscular
IV- intravenously
IVP- intravenous pylogram (kidney)
 
L
LB-large bowel
LE- lupus erythematosus

M
MD- medical doctor
mg- milligrams
MS- multiple sclerosis

N
NSAID- non-steroidal anti-imflammatory drug
NPO- nothing by mouth
NYD- not yet diagnosed
nad- no appraciable disease

O
OTC-over the counter (drugs)
OR- operating room
OT- occupational therapist
od- every day
OA- osteo-arthritis

P
PID- pelvic inflammatory disease
ph- alkalinity  & acidity in urine and blood
po- by mouth
PT- prothrombin time
PIOSA- prospective internet observational study in arthritis
PA- Psoriatic arthritis

 Q
qns- quantity not sufficient
qt- quart
q.i.d.- four times a day

R
RBC- red blood count
R/O- rule out
RA- rheumatoid arthritis
RF- rheumatic fever
RS- Reiter's syndrome- Reative Arthritis

S
SB- small bowel
SOB- shortness of breath
Sed Rate- same as ESR
stat-immediately
SLE- systemic lupus erythematosus

T
TSH- thyroid stimulating hormone
t.i.d.-three times a day

W
WBC- white blood count