Pharmacology

Combining forms:
aer/o: air
algesi/o: sensitivity to pain
chem/o: drug
cras/o: mixture, temperament
derm/o: skin
enter/o: intestines
erg/o: work
esthesi/o: feeling, nervous sensation
hist/o: tissue
hypn/o: sleep
iatr/o: physician, treatment
idi/o: individual, distinct, own
lingu/o: tongue
myc/o: mold
pharmac/o: drug
pyr/o: fever
narc/o: numbness, stupor
thec/o: sheath (of brain and spinal cord)
tox/o: poison
toxic/o: poison
vas/o: vessel
ven/o: vein
vit/o: life

Prefix:
anti-: against
contra-: against

Suffix:
-cidal: pertaining to killing
-lytic: reduce, destroy
-mimetic: mimic, copy
-phylaxis: protection
-static: pertaining to stopping, controlling

The below tables are not for exam purposes.
 

Abbreviation
Derivation
Meaning
alt. dieb. alternis diebus on alternate days
aq. aqua water
bin bis in noctis two times a night
bis i. d. bis in diem twice a day
c. circa about, approximately
ca. circa about, approximately
comp compositus compound
cont. rem. continuantur remedia let the remedies be continued
d. da give, administer
de d. in d. de die in diem daily
dieb. alt. diebus alternis on alternate days
dil. dilue, dilutus dilute, dilutus
in p. aeq. dividiatur in partes aequales divide into equal parts
Dur. dolor. durante dolore while the pain lasts
FDA   Food & Drug Administration
grad. gradatim gradually
gt gutta drops
h hora hour
hor. som. hora somni at bedtime
h.s. hora somni at bedtime
in d. in dies daily
m. misce mix
m. et n. mane et nocte morning and night
mg   milligram
N.F.   National Formulary
n.b. nota bene mark well
noct. maneq. noct maneque night and morning
NPO nulla per os nothing by mouth
o.d. omni die every day
oh omni hora every hour
ol oleum oil
om omni mane every morning
omn. hor. omni hora every hour
on omni nocte every night
os os mouth
oz.   ounce
p.c. post cibum after meals
PDR   Physicians Desk Reference
po per os by mouth
p.p.a. phiala prius agitata shake the bottle first
p.r.n. pro re nata as occasion arises
Q(q) quaque every
q.h. quaque hora every hour
q.l. quantum libet as much as desired
q.p. quantum placeat as much as you please
q.q.h. quaque quarta hora every four hours
qq. hor. quaque hora every hour
q.suff. quantum sufficit as much as suffices
q.s. quantum satis as much as suffices
quotid. quotidie daily
R/ recipe take
si op. sit si opus sit if necessary
solv. solve dissolve
st. stet, stent let it stand, let them stand
subq   subcutaneous injection
sum. sume take
syr syrupus syrup
tab   tablet
tal. talis such
ter i. d. ter in diem three times a day
ung ungentum ointment
U.S.P.   United States Pharmacopeia
ut dict. ut dictum as directed

Abbreviations Used in Dosage and Directions: (not for exam)
 

Abbreviation
Derivation
Meaning
aa ana of each
ad ad up to
ad lib ad libitum as much as desired
b bis twice
C   centigrade
c cum with
cc   cubic centimeter
caps capsula capsule
Gm gram gram, grams
gr granum,grana grain, grains
gtt gutta drop, drops
(h) hypodermic under the skin
IM   intramuscular
IV   intravenous
kg kilogram thousand grams
l liter liter
LB., lb libra pound
ml milliliter thousandth of a liter
ocul oculus the eye
o.d. oculo dextro in right eye
o.s. oculo sinistro in left eye
o.u. oculus uterque in each eye
p.o. per os by mouth
q.s. quantum sufficit a sufficient quantity
R recipe take
s sine without
s.c., sub cut sub cutem subcutaneous
sig signa label, let it be labeled
s.o.s. si opus sit if necessary
ss semis one-half
tab   tablet
tsp teaspoon teaspoonful
tbsp tablespoon tablespoonful

Abbreviations Indicating Time of Administration: (not for exam)
 

Abbreviation
Derivation
Meaning
a.c. ante cibos before meals
b.i.d. bis in diem twice a day
h hora hour
h.s. hora somni at bedtime
o.m. omni mane each morning
o.n. omni nocte each night
p.c. post cibos after meals
p.r.n. pro re nata when needed
q.d. quaque diem every day (daily)
q.2h., q.3h., q.4h.   every 2,3, or 4 hours
q.i.d., or 4. i.d. quarter in diem four times a day
stat statium at once
t.i.d. ter in diem three times a day

Abbreviations Indicating Hours of Administration: (not for exam)
 

Abbreviation: Meaning:
q.i.d. 0800, 1200, 1600, 2000
q.2h 0600, 0800, 1000, 1200, etc.
q.3h 0900, 1200, 1500, 1800, etc.
q.4h 0800, 1200, 1600, etc.
q.6h 0600, 1200, etc.
b.i.d. 1000, 1600
t.i.d. 1000, 1500, and 1800
a.c. 1/2 hour before meals: 0630, 1130, 1630
p.c. 0800, 1400, 1800

NOTE: This list contains examples of hours of administration of drugs when the instructions of the physician indicate only the number of doses to be given each day. A local policy directive should be consulted, since hours of administration of drugs are customarily coordinated with local hospital hours for meal service ("lights out" at night, etc.).