BBW
Medical abbreviation · Pharmacology
| Stands for | Black box warning |
|---|---|
| Categories | Medical |
BBW stands for Black box warning, a pharmacology abbreviation.
FDA's strongest label warning, printed inside a black border at the top of a drug's prescribing information to highlight risks of serious or life-threatening harm. Fluoroquinolones, antidepressants, warfarin and many opioids carry boxed warnings.
Example: BBW: increased suicidality in patients under 25 on antidepressants; monitor closely.
Usage notes
The official FDA term is "boxed warning". Well-known examples include the 2004 warning on suicidality with antidepressants in young people and the 2008 tendon-rupture warning for fluoroquinolones. A boxed warning does not ban use, but some insurers and hospitals require extra justification or monitoring.
Related abbreviations
More pharmacology abbreviations
- ADME – Absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion
- ADR – Adverse drug reaction
- AE – Adverse event
- ATC – Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical classification
- AUC – Area under the curve
- BAN – British Approved Name
- BE – Bioequivalence
- Cmax – Maximum concentration
- Css – Steady-state concentration
- CYP – Cytochrome P450
- DDD – Defined daily dose
- DDI – Drug-drug interaction
See all 36 pharmacology abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.