As an example, a prescription for “furosemide 40 mg Q.D.” (40 mg daily) was misinterpreted as “QID” (40 mg four times a day), leading to a serious medical error.Numbers can lead to confusion and drug dosing errors, too. These types of errors can be linked with severe patient harm. “ATX” was misunderstood to be the shorthand for zidovudine (AZT, an HIV drug) or azathioprine (an immunosuppressant drug). For example, complicated treatment regimens, like cancer treatment protocols or combination HIV regimens, may be written with drug name abbreviations.Īs reported by the FDA, a prescription with the abbreviation “MTX” has been interpreted as both methotrexate (used for rheumatoid arthritis) or mitoxantrone (a cancer drug). Drug Name Abbreviationsĭrug names may often be abbreviated, too. If you receive a prescription label with unclear and confusing directions, always call your doctor right away to check on the correct information. However, discrepancies in electronic prescriptions are common and can lead to medical errors and possible patient harm. Today, many prescriptions are now submitted via electronic prescribing (e-prescribing), electronic medical records (EMRs), and computerized physician order entry (CPOE), which has helped to lower the rates of these medical errors. Historically, poor penmanship and lack of standardization was the root cause of many of the prescription errors. In addition, when these abbreviations are unclear, extra time must be spent by pharmacists or other healthcare providers trying to clarify their meanings, which can delay much-needed treatments. Some of the typed or computer-generated abbreviations, prescription symbols, and dose designations can still be confusing and lead to mistakes in drug dosing or timing. Don’t Computers Solve The Problem With Abbreviations? Health care facilities and practitioners are expected to take action and set internal standards to prevent these common - and potentially dangerous - medical errors.

Healthcare agencies, such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) have made it a priority to communicate information about confusing abbreviations and medical shorthands. All abbreviations can increase the risk for incorrect interpretation and should be used with caution in the healthcare setting. In fact, an unclear, poorly written or wrong medical abbreviation that leads to misinterpretation is one of the most common and preventable causes of medication errors. Looking for the list of common medical abbreviations? Click here to access Table 1 belowĪpothecary prescription abbreviations, like the ones you might see written by your doctor on your prescription or a hospital medication order, can be a common source of confusion for healthcare providers, too. But there may be more to know about this shorthand than meets the eye. Last updated on July 14, 2021.īID, PO, XR, APAP, QHS, or PRN: Have you ever wondered what these odd, encrypted medical abbreviations mean on your prescription? Medical terminology is difficult enough, but how do you interpret these prescription directions written in code? Luckily you don’t have to it’s the pharmacist’s job to put the medical abbreviation in plain english on your medication label. Medically reviewed by Leigh Ann Anderson, PharmD. Medical Abbreviations on Pharmacy Prescriptions

Take as needed medical abbreviation