Pharmacy Sig Codes

What are Sig Codes?

Sig codes are important standard prescription abbreviations that doctors and other medical practitioners use in a prescription. While improving technology has decreased the number of handwritten prescriptions issued nowadays, it is vital for pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and pharmacy school students to know and remember these codes.

List of Sig Codes and Their Abbreviation Meaning

Sig codes indicate medication dosages, measurements, dosage times or frequency, and routes of administration to a pharmacist and a pharmacy technician. What follows is a list of the pharmacy abbreviations and the abbreviation meaning to those familiar with reading written prescriptions and the sig codes they include.

  • AAA – Affected area application
  • ac – before meals
  • ad – right ear
  • am – in the morning
  • amp – ampule
  • amp – ampicillin
  • APAP – acetaminophen
  • aq or H2O – water
  • as – left ear
  • au – each or both ears
  • AUD – apply as directed
  • bid or b.i.d. – twice a day
  • BOT – bottle
  • BP – blood pressure
  • c – with
  • C or c – 100
  • cap – capsule
  • cc – cubic centimeter
  • cf – with food
  • CF – cough/cold formula
  • cm – centimeter
  • CPM – chlorpheniramine
  • cr or cre – cream
  • CR – controlled release
  • D or d – 500
  • D/C or d/c – discontinue
  • DA – delayed action
  • DAW – dispense as written
  • dc or d/c – discontinue
  • DC – diagnosis code
  • dil – dilute
  • disp – dispense
  • dL – deciliter
  • DM – dextromethorphan
  • DR – delayed release
  • DS – double strength
  • DV – a daily value
  • EC or e.c. – enteric-coated
  • ECT – enteric-coated tablet
  • ER – extended release
  • fl – fluid
  • fl oz – fluid ounce
  • ft – feet
  • g, gm – gram
  • gal – gallon
  • GG -guaifenesin
  • GGPE – guaifenesin/phenylephrine
  • gr – grain
  • gtt – drop
  • h or hr – hour
  • HA – headache
  • HBP – high blood pressure
  • HC – hydrocodone or hydrocortisone
  • HCT or HCTZ – hydrochlorothiazide
  • hs – at bedtime
  • ht – height
  • HT or HTN – hypertension
  • I or i – 1
  • IM – intramuscular
  • in – inch
  • inh – inhalation
  • INH – isoniazid
  • inj – injection
  • IR – immediate release
  • IT or ITCH – itching
  • IU or I.U. – international unit
  • IV – intravenous
  • K – Potassium
  • KCl or KCL – Potassium Chloride
  • kg – kilogram
  • L or l – liter
  • L or l – 50
  • LA – long-acting
  • lb – pound
  • liq – liquid
  • lot – lotion
  • m – meter
  • M or m – 1,000
  • m² – square meters
  • mcg – microgram
  • mcL – microliter
  • MDI – metered dose inhaler
  • MDP Medrol Dose Pack
  • mEq – milliequivalent
  • Mg or Mag – Magnesium
  • mg – milligram
  • mg/dL – milligrams per deciliter of blood
  • mL- milliliter
  • mm Hg – millimeters of mercury
  • MTX – methotrexate
  • MVI – multiple or Multi-Vitamins
  • N/A or n/a – not available
  • N&V or N/V – nausea and vomiting
  • NA – nausea
  • Na – Sodium
  • NaCl – salt
  • NaHCO3 – sodium bicarbonate
  • NDC – national drug code
  • NEB or neb – nebulizer
  • No., no., Nos. or nos. – number/numbers
  • noct – at night
  • NPH – N (intermediate) insulin
  • NPI – National Provider Identifier
  • npo – nil per mouth
  • NR, N.R. or NRF – no refill
  • NS – nasal spray
  • NS – normal saline (0.9% sodium chloride)
  • NTG – nitroglycerin
  • NV – nausea and vomiting
  • od – right eye
  • ODT – orally disintegrating tablet
  • oint – ointment
  • OP, OPH, OPHT or OPHTH – ophthalmic
  • os – left eye
  • OTC – over the counter
  • ou – each or both eyes
  • oz – ounce
  • PA – prior authorization
  • PB or Pb – phenobarbital
  • pc – after meals
  • PCN – penicillin
  • pct – percent or percentage
  • PD – pediatric drop
  • PED – pediatric
  • PEG – polyethylene glycol
  • per – by or through
  • pH – acidity level
  • pkd – packaged
  • pkg – package
  • pkt – packet
  • pm – afternoon or in the evening
  • PMS – premenstrual syndrome
  • PNV – prenatal vitamins
  • po – by mouth
  • pp – postprandial (after eating)
  • PR – per rectum
  • prn – as needed
  • PSE – pseudoephedrine
  • pt – pint
  • pt or pt. – patient
  • PTU – propylthiouracil
  • q – every, each
  • qam – every morning
  • qd – daily
  • qdam – daily in the morning
  • qd pm – daily in the evening
  • qh – every hour
  • q12h – every 12 hours
  • q2-3h – every two to three hours
  • q24h – every 24 hours
  • q2-4h – every two to four hours
  • q4h – every four hours
  • q4-6h – every four to six hours
  • q4° – every four hours
  • q6° – every six hours
  • qhs – every night
  • qid or q.i.d. – four times a day
  • qod – every other day
  • qpm – every evening
  • q 8pm – every day at 8 p.m.
  • qs, QS or Q.S. – sufficient quantity
  • qt – quart
  • QTY or qty – quantity
  • qw – once a week
  • R – rectum, rectally
  • RA – rheumatoid arthritis
  • RF – refill
  • Rx – prescription
  • s – without
  • SA – sustained action
  • sc, sq or subq – subcutaneous (under the skin)
  • sig – signa (prescription directions)
  • SL or S.L. – sublingual (under the tongue)
  • SMZ-TMP – sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim
  • SOB – shortness of breath
  • SOD or sod – sodium
  • sol or soln – solution
  • SR – sustained release
  • ss – one half
  • stat – immediately
  • sup or supp – suppository
  • susp – suspension
  • syr – syrup
  • SYR – syringe
  • tab – tablet
  • tac or TAC – triamcinolone
  • tud or TUD – take as directed
  • tat or TAT – until all taken
  • tbsp – tablespoonful
  • TCN – tetracycline
  • tiw or t.i.w. – three times a week
  • TMP – trimethoprim
  • top – topical
  • tr – timed-release
  • tsp – teaspoonful
  • tud or TUD – take as directed
  • U – units
  • uad or UAD – use as directed
  • uat or UAT – until all taken
  • ud – as directed
  • ut dict – as directed
  • ung – ointment
  • UTI – urinary tract infection
  • V or v – 5
  • vag – vaginally
  • w/ – with
  • w/o – without
  • WA – while awake
  • WH – wheezing
  • wk – week
  • wt – weight
  • WZ – wheezing
  • X or x – 10
  • X or x – times
  • x 1 RF – times one refill
  • X 3 RF – times three refills
  • XL – extra long
  • XR – extended release

The Importance of Knowing Sig Codes

Memorizing Sig codes is of the utmost importance for all pharmacy staff designated to the task of filling prescriptions, as some of the most regular job functions carried out by pharmacy techs are decoding doctors’ prescriptions, translating them into dosages, and filling out directions on patients’ medication bottles and packets.

Usage might include combinations of codes e.g “qs ad” – add sufficient quantity to the right ear.

For the above reason, pharmaceutical students can be confident that specific Sig codes will come up during the PTCB or ExCPT exams.

FAQs

What Does ‘Sig’ Mean?

Sig is an abbreviation of ‘signetur,’ a Latin word meaning ‘let it be labeled.’

Why are pharmacy Sig codes important?

Many pharmacies use Sig (or speed) codes to simplify and speed up the data entry process. Sig codes are often already programmed into a pharmacy computer system.

What are Sig codes used for?

Sig codes tell a pharmacy what to mark on a drug’s label. This helps you to know when and how to take the medication.

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