Medication Abbreviations 1

Medication Abbreviations 2

Medication abbreviations in the following chart must not be used anywhere in the patient's medical record (Download in PDF):

Unapproved Abbreviation: Intended Meaning: Potential Problem: Recommendation: No zero before decimal point when less than a whole unit (e.g. .1 mg) 0.1 mg Misread as 1 mg (especially on lined paper) Always use a zero BEFORE decimal. (1)     U Units Misread as a zero (0), four (4), or cc Write out "units" (2)     IU International Units Misread as IV or 10 Write out International Units (3)     QD Daily Misinterpreted as QID or QD. Write out "daily" (4)     QOD Every other day Misinterpreted as QID or QD Write out "every other day" DA, Dop, Dopa Dopamine Unclear; maybe misinterpreted for dobutamine Write out drug names DB, Dob, Dobu Dobutamine Unclear; maybe misinterpreted for dopamine Write out drug names MS or MSO4 Morphine Unclear; maybe misinterpreted for magnesium sulfate Write out drug names MgSO4 Magnesium sulfate Unclear; maybe misinterpreted for morphine sulfate Write out drug names SNP Sodium Nitroprusside Unclear; maybe misinterpreted for morphine sulfate Write out drug names

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