Aqueous (medication in a water-based solution)

capsule

Controlled Dose

Controlled Release

Double Strength

Elixir(liquid medication sweetened with alcohol)

Emulsion(a mixture of two liquids that typically do not mix)

Fluid

Drop(need to know to read orders But DO NOT USE it is no longer an approved abbreviation)

Long-acting

Mixture(mixture of more than one liquid medication)

Oral dissolving tablet

Solution(water-based medication)

Slow-release

Suppository

Tablet

Ointment

Extra-long-acting

Extended release

Buccal-dissolved in the cheek

Injected into the epidural space

Given through a tube inserted directly into the stomach

Gastronomy Tube

Hypodermic-Under the skin, includes subcutaneous and IM routes

Intradermal- Injected under the skin layer

Intramuscular-injected into the muscle

Intravenous-into the vein

Intravenous piggyback-into the vein by a small container added to a primary fluid

Metered dose inhaler

Nasogastric-Given through a tube inserted into the nose to stomach

Nothing by mouth

Given by mouth

Parenteral nutrition-Nutritional feeding given into the vein

Rectal-Given per rectum

Subcutaneous-Given beneath the skin into the fat layer

Sublingual-Under the tongue

topical-Applied to the skin

vaginal-Given per vagina

before

before meals

As desired

Twice a day

With

Given medication when department calls for the patient

After

After meals

As needed

every

every hour

Every 2 hours

Every 4 hours

Every 6 hours

Every 8 hours

Every 12 hours

Four times a day

Every night at bedtime(you need to know HS, but DO NOT USE)

Without

Immediately

Three times a day