What are pharmacy abbreviations?

Understanding Common Pharmacy Abbreviations

When you pick up a prescription, you might notice strange abbreviations on the label or instructions. These shorthand terms are standard in healthcare to ensure clear, concise communication—but they can be confusing if you don’t know what they mean.

Abbreviations for dosage and form are among the most common. For example, cap stands for capsule, derived from the Latin capsula, while cr or crm refers to cream. If your prescription says "1/2 tablet," it simply means half a tablet—something important for dosing accuracy.

When it comes to administration, direction matters. Ever seen “AD” or “AS” on an ear drop prescription? These come from Latin: AD (auris dextra) means right ear, AS (auris sinistra) means left ear, and AU (auris utraque) means both ears. Similarly, “D/C,” “dc,” or “disc” usually means to discontinue a medication or be discharged from care—not a command to take something daily, as some mistakenly believe.

BSA, or body surface area, is another term often used in clinical settings, especially for calculating chemotherapy dosages based on a patient’s size. While helpful for providers, these abbreviations can be a source of confusion—or even danger—if misinterpreted.

That’s why healthcare systems are moving toward clearer language and standardized terms to prevent errors. Still, knowing a few basics can empower patients to ask the right questions. Always double-check unclear instructions with your pharmacist. After all, understanding your medication is a key part of staying safe and healthy.