Drug Abbreviations
170 abbreviations · part of Medical Abbreviations
Drug abbreviations are short forms for individual medicines, such as APAP for acetaminophen, ASA for aspirin, HCTZ for hydrochlorothiazide and MTX for methotrexate, along with chemical formulas used as drug names (KCl, MgSO4) and abbreviations for antidotes, hormones, HIV and tuberculosis drugs and recreational substances. They save time in charts and pharmacy systems but are a recognized source of medication errors: The Joint Commission bans MS, MSO4 and MgSO4 in orders, and ISMP recommends writing full generic names because abbreviations such as AZT, HCT, MTX and PTU have each been confused with other medicines.
| Abbreviation | Stands for | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 2-PAM | Pralidoxime | Antidote for poisoning by organophosphate pesticides and nerve agents such as sarin. |
| 3HP | Three months of weekly isoniazid and rifapentine | Short regimen for latent tuberculosis infection consisting of 12 once-weekly doses of isoniazid plus rifapentine, often given as directly observed therapy. |
| 3TC | Lamivudine | Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor used in many HIV regimens, including the two-drug combination dolutegravir/lamivudine (Dovato), and at lower doses for… |
| 4-MP | 4-Methylpyrazole (fomepizole) | Antidote for ethylene glycol (antifreeze) and methanol poisoning. |
| 5-ASA | 5-Aminosalicylic acid (mesalamine) | Anti-inflammatory drug that acts locally on the lining of the colon, the first-line treatment for mild to moderate ulcerative colitis. |
| 5-FC | 5-Fluorocytosine (flucytosine) | Oral antifungal used with amphotericin B for induction treatment of cryptococcal meningitis. |
| 5-FU | 5-Fluorouracil | Chemotherapy drug that blocks DNA synthesis, a backbone of treatment for colorectal, pancreatic, stomach and head and neck cancers, usually given as an IV bolus plus a… |
| 5-HTP | 5-Hydroxytryptophan | Amino acid that the body converts directly into serotonin, sold as a supplement extracted from the seeds of the African plant Griffonia simplicifolia for mood, sleep… |
| 6-MP | 6-Mercaptopurine | Oral thiopurine drug used for long-term maintenance in acute lymphoblastic leukemia and to maintain remission in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. |
| 70/30 | 70% intermediate-acting and 30% short-acting premixed insulin | Premixed insulin containing 70 percent NPH and 30 percent regular insulin (Humulin 70/30, Novolin 70/30), or the analog version with 70 percent aspart protamine and 30… |
| AAS | Anabolic-androgenic steroids | Testosterone and synthetic derivatives such as nandrolone, stanozolol and oxandrolone that build muscle and promote male characteristics. |
| ABC | Abacavir | Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor for HIV, found in Triumeq and Epzicom. |
| ABX | Antibiotics | Charting shorthand for antibiotics in general, as in "start abx", "on abx day 3" or "abx allergy". |
| ACV | Acyclovir | Antiviral drug for herpes simplex and varicella-zoster infections, given orally for cold sores, genital herpes and shingles and IV for herpes encephalitis. |
| AmB | Amphotericin B | Broad-spectrum antifungal given IV for life-threatening infections such as cryptococcal meningitis, mucormycosis and invasive candidiasis. |
| amp | Ampicillin | Clinical shorthand for ampicillin, an IV and oral penicillin used for enterococcal infections, Listeria meningitis and, with gentamicin, newborn sepsis. "Amp-sulbactam"… |
| APAP | N-acetyl-para-aminophenol (acetaminophen) | Abbreviation for acetaminophen, the pain and fever reliever sold as Tylenol and known outside North America as paracetamol. |
| Ara-C | Cytarabine (cytosine arabinoside) | Chemotherapy drug central to treating acute myeloid leukemia, including the classic "7+3" induction of seven days of cytarabine with three days of an anthracycline. |
| ASA | Acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) | Abbreviation for aspirin, used for pain, fever and inflammation and, at low doses (usually 81 mg in the US), to prevent heart attacks and strokes by blocking platelet… |
| ATG | Antithymocyte globulin | Antibody preparation made by immunizing rabbits or horses with human thymus cells, used to deplete T cells for induction and rejection treatment in organ… |
| ATRA | All-trans retinoic acid (tretinoin) | Oral vitamin A derivative that makes acute promyelocytic leukemia cells mature instead of multiplying. |
| AZA | Azathioprine | Immunosuppressant used to prevent organ transplant rejection and to treat autoimmune conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, autoimmune hepatitis, lupus and… |
| AZT | Azidothymidine (zidovudine) | First antiretroviral drug for HIV, approved by the FDA in 1987. |
| B12 | Vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) | Vitamin needed for red blood cell formation and nerve function, given as oral tablets, nasal spray or injections to treat deficiency from pernicious anemia, gastric… |
| BAL | British anti-Lewisite (dimercaprol) | Chelating antidote developed by British scientists during World War II against lewisite, an arsenic-based chemical weapon. |
| BDQ | Bedaquiline | Diarylquinoline antibiotic that blocks mycobacterial ATP synthase, used to treat multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. |
| BIC | Bictegravir | Integrase inhibitor available only as part of the single-tablet regimen bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (Biktarvy), approved in the US in 2018 and one… |
| bicarb | Sodium bicarbonate | Alkalinizing drug given IV for severe metabolic acidosis, sodium-channel-blocker overdoses such as tricyclic antidepressants, some cases of hyperkalemia and urine… |
| BPaL | Bedaquiline, pretomanid and linezolid | Six-month all-oral regimen for highly drug-resistant tuberculosis, replacing older treatments that lasted up to two years and required daily injections. |
| BPO | Benzoyl peroxide | Antibacterial and mildly peeling acne treatment sold in washes, gels and creams at 2.5% to 10%, alone or combined with clindamycin or adapalene. |
| BSS | Balanced salt solution | Sterile irrigating solution with electrolytes matched to eye fluids, used to keep the eye's tissues hydrated during cataract and other eye surgery. |
| CAB | Cabotegravir | Integrase inhibitor available as a long-acting injection for HIV prevention (Apretude, every two months) and, combined with rilpivirine (Cabenuva), for HIV treatment… |
| CaCl | Calcium chloride | IV calcium salt used in emergencies such as cardiac arrest with high potassium, calcium channel blocker overdose and severe low calcium. |
| CaCO3 | Calcium carbonate | Calcium salt used as an antacid (Tums), a calcium supplement and a phosphate binder in kidney disease. |
| CBD | Cannabidiol | Non-intoxicating compound from cannabis and hemp, sold widely in oils, gummies and creams and approved as the prescription drug Epidiolex for seizures in Lennox-Gastaut… |
| CBZ | Carbamazepine | Antiseizure drug used for focal epilepsy, bipolar disorder and as first-line treatment for trigeminal neuralgia. |
| CHG | Chlorhexidine gluconate | Antiseptic used for surgical skin preparation, central line insertion and care, daily bathing of ICU patients, hand scrubs and as a 0.12% oral rinse for gum disease. |
| CoQ10 | Coenzyme Q10 (ubiquinone) | Compound that helps cells produce energy in mitochondria, made by the body and sold as a dietary supplement. |
| CPZ | Compazine (prochlorperazine) | Shorthand for Compazine, a former brand name of the antiemetic prochlorperazine. |
| CsA | Cyclosporine A | Calcineurin inhibitor immunosuppressant used to prevent transplant rejection and to treat severe psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis and dry eye (as eye drops). |
| CTX | Cyclophosphamide | Alkylating chemotherapy and immunosuppressive drug, sold as Cytoxan, used for breast cancer, lymphomas and leukemias, conditioning before stem cell transplant, and… |
| CYC | Cyclophosphamide | Abbreviation preferred in rheumatology and nephrology for cyclophosphamide used to treat severe autoimmune conditions such as lupus nephritis and ANCA-associated… |
| D3 | Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) | Form of vitamin D made in the skin by sunlight and sold as supplements, usually in doses of 1,000 to 2,000 IU daily or larger weekly doses for deficiency. |
| DDAVP | 1-deamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin (desmopressin) | Synthetic analog of antidiuretic hormone used for central diabetes insipidus, bedwetting, nocturia and bleeding in mild hemophilia A and von Willebrand disease. |
| DES | Diethylstilbestrol | Synthetic estrogen prescribed to millions of pregnant women from the 1940s to 1971 in the mistaken belief that it prevented miscarriage. |
| dex | Dexamethasone | Clinical shorthand for dexamethasone, a potent, long-acting glucocorticoid used for brain swelling from tumors, croup, nausea prevention with chemotherapy, severe… |
| DHE | Dihydroergotamine | Ergot-derived drug used to abort severe migraine and cluster headache, given IV, by injection or as a nasal spray (Migranal, Trudhesa). |
| DHEA | Dehydroepiandrosterone | Adrenal steroid hormone that the body converts into testosterone and estrogens. |
| DMPA | Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate | Injectable progestin contraceptive, Depo-Provera, given every three months (13 weeks) as 150 mg IM or 104 mg subcut. |
| DMSA | Dimercaptosuccinic acid (succimer) | Oral chelating agent, sold as Chemet, used mainly to treat lead poisoning in children with blood lead levels of 45 mcg/dL or higher. |
| DMSO | Dimethyl sulfoxide | Colorless polar aprotic solvent, (CH3)2SO, that dissolves an unusually wide range of polar and nonpolar substances and mixes with water. |
| DMT | N,N-Dimethyltryptamine | Short-acting psychedelic found in many plants and the active ingredient of ayahuasca, the Amazonian brew that combines DMT-containing leaves with a vine containing MAO… |
| doxy-PEP | Doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis | Single 200 mg dose of doxycycline taken within 72 hours after condomless sex to prevent bacterial sexually transmitted infections, mainly syphilis and chlamydia, and to… |
| DPH | Diphenhydramine | First-generation sedating antihistamine, best known as Benadryl, used for allergies, hives, insomnia and as part of anaphylaxis and dystonic reaction treatment. |
| DPT | Demerol-Phenergan-Thorazine | Older intramuscular sedation "cocktail" of meperidine, promethazine and chlorpromazine once given to children before procedures. |
| DRV | Darunavir | HIV protease inhibitor taken with a booster, ritonavir (DRV/r) or cobicistat (DRV/c), in regimens such as Prezcobix and Symtuza. |
| DSS | Dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate (docusate sodium) | Stool softener, best known as Colace, that lets water mix into stool. |
| DTG | Dolutegravir | Integrase inhibitor that is a cornerstone of modern HIV treatment, with a high barrier to resistance and once-daily dosing. |
| DXM | Dextromethorphan | Cough suppressant found in many over-the-counter cold medicines, such as Robitussin DM and Delsym. |
| EE | Ethinyl estradiol | Synthetic estrogen in most combined oral contraceptive pills, patches and vaginal rings, usually 10 to 35 micrograms per pill. |
| EFV | Efavirenz | Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor that was long a first-line HIV drug, notably in Atripla, the first complete HIV regimen in a single daily pill (2006). |
| EMB | Ethambutol | First-line antituberculosis drug given in the initial phase of treatment, mainly to prevent resistance until drug susceptibility results are known. |
| EMLA | Eutectic mixture of local anesthetics | Topical cream of lidocaine 2.5% and prilocaine 2.5% applied under an occlusive dressing to numb skin before IV starts, blood draws, vaccinations and minor skin… |
| Epi | Epinephrine | Hormone and drug used for anaphylaxis, cardiac arrest, severe asthma and as a vasopressor. |
| EPO | Erythropoietin (epoetin alfa) | Kidney hormone that stimulates red blood cell production, and the recombinant drug versions (Epogen, Procrit, Retacrit) used to treat anemia from chronic kidney disease… |
| FeSO4 | Ferrous sulfate | The most commonly used oral iron supplement for iron-deficiency anemia, usually as 325 mg tablets that provide 65 mg of elemental iron. |
| FK506 | Tacrolimus | Original research code name for tacrolimus, the transplant immunosuppressant, still used in laboratory science and occasionally in clinical notes. |
| FTC | Emtricitabine | Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor for HIV, almost always used in combination pills with tenofovir (TDF or TAF). |
| G-CSF | Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor | Growth factor that stimulates the bone marrow to make neutrophils, given as filgrastim or pegfilgrastim to prevent infections during chemotherapy and to mobilize stem… |
| GHB | Gamma-hydroxybutyrate | Central nervous system depressant that occurs naturally in small amounts in the brain and is used illicitly as a club drug. |
| GM-CSF | Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor | Growth factor, given as the drug sargramostim (Leukine), that stimulates production of several white blood cell types. |
| GTN | Glyceryl trinitrate (nitroglycerin) | British and international name for nitroglycerin, used on UK, Irish, Australian and European prescriptions and labels, most often as a sublingual spray for angina. |
| HBIG | Hepatitis B immune globulin | Antibody preparation that gives immediate, short-term protection against hepatitis B. |
| HC | Hydrocortisone | Abbreviation for hydrocortisone, the pharmaceutical form of cortisol, used as replacement in adrenal insufficiency, for adrenal crisis, as stress-dose steroids and in… |
| HCl | Hydrochloride | Salt form in which many drugs are made, noted at the end of the generic name, such as diphenhydramine HCl, sertraline HCl or metformin HCl. |
| HCQ | Hydroxychloroquine | Antimalarial drug widely used for lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and Sjogren syndrome, as well as malaria prevention. |
| HCT | Hydrocortisone | Rare abbreviation for hydrocortisone that ISMP lists as error-prone because it has been read as hydrochlorothiazide, a blood pressure pill. |
| HCTZ | Hydrochlorothiazide | Thiazide diuretic widely used for high blood pressure, alone or combined with ACE inhibitors, ARBs or beta-blockers. |
| HQ | Hydroquinone | Skin-lightening agent that blocks melanin production, used to treat melasma, sun spots and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. |
| IFN | Interferon | Family of signaling proteins with antiviral and immune-modulating effects, used as drugs: interferon beta for multiple sclerosis, interferon alfa formerly for hepatitis… |
| INH | Isoniazid | First-line antibiotic for tuberculosis, used alone for latent TB infection and with other drugs for active TB. |
| ISDN | Isosorbide dinitrate | Oral nitrate used to prevent angina and, combined with hydralazine, to treat heart failure. |
| ISMN | Isosorbide mononitrate | Long-acting oral nitrate taken once or twice daily to prevent angina, the active metabolite of isosorbide dinitrate. |
| IVIG | Intravenous immunoglobulin | Concentrated antibodies pooled from the plasma of thousands of donors, given IV to replace antibodies in immune deficiencies and to modulate the immune system in… |
| IVMP | Intravenous methylprednisolone | High-dose IV steroid "pulse" therapy, typically 500 to 1,000 mg daily for three to five days, used for multiple sclerosis relapses, optic neuritis, lupus flares… |
| KCl | Potassium chloride | Salt used to treat or prevent low potassium, given orally as tablets, powders or liquids, or intravenously as a diluted infusion. |
| KI | Potassium iodide | Salt that saturates the thyroid with stable iodine so it cannot absorb radioactive iodine released in a nuclear accident. |
| L-dopa | Levodopa | Precursor of dopamine that crosses into the brain and remains the most effective drug for Parkinson disease symptoms. |
| LEN | Lenacapavir | First-in-class HIV capsid inhibitor given as an injection under the skin every six months. |
| LET | Lidocaine, epinephrine and tetracaine | Topical anesthetic gel applied directly to lacerations, especially in children, to numb the wound before cleaning and suturing without a needle. |
| LEV | Levetiracetam | Widely used antiseizure drug for focal and generalized epilepsy, available as tablets, liquid and IV. |
| levo | Levophed (norepinephrine) | ICU slang for the vasopressor norepinephrine, from its brand name Levophed. |
| LNG | Levonorgestrel | Synthetic progestin used in emergency contraception pills (Plan B One-Step, 1.5 mg), many combined birth control pills and hormonal IUDs such as Mirena, Kyleena and… |
| LPV/r | Lopinavir/ritonavir | Co-formulated HIV protease inhibitor (Kaletra) in which low-dose ritonavir boosts lopinavir levels. |
| LSD | Lysergic acid diethylamide | Potent hallucinogen active in doses of micrograms, producing altered perception and thinking for 8 to 12 hours. |
| LT4 | Levothyroxine | Synthetic form of thyroxine (T4), the standard treatment for hypothyroidism and one of the most prescribed drugs in the US. |
| LTG | Lamotrigine | Antiseizure drug also used as a mood stabilizer to prevent depressive episodes in bipolar disorder. |
| MDMA | 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine | Stimulant and empathogen sold illicitly as ecstasy or molly, producing euphoria and feelings of closeness. |
| MgO | Magnesium oxide | Oral magnesium supplement used to treat low magnesium, as a laxative and as an antacid. |
| MgSO4 | Magnesium sulfate | Magnesium salt given IV to prevent and treat seizures in preeclampsia and eclampsia, to treat torsades de pointes and severe asthma, and to replace low magnesium. |
| MME | Morphine milligram equivalents | Standardized measure that converts doses of different opioids into the equivalent amount of oral morphine, used to compare regimens, assess overdose risk and switch… |
| MMF | Mycophenolate mofetil | Immunosuppressant used with other drugs to prevent rejection of kidney, heart and liver transplants and to treat lupus nephritis and other autoimmune diseases. |
| MMI | Methimazole | First-line antithyroid drug for Graves disease and toxic nodular goiter, taken once daily. |
| MOM | Milk of magnesia | Suspension of magnesium hydroxide used as a saline laxative and antacid. |
| MS | Morphine sulfate | Shorthand for morphine sulfate that appears on The Joint Commission "Do Not Use" list because it can mean either morphine sulfate or magnesium sulfate. |
| MSIR | Morphine sulfate immediate release | Short-acting oral morphine tablets or solution used for acute pain and for breakthrough pain in patients on long-acting opioids. |
| MSO4 | Morphine sulfate | Abbreviation for morphine sulfate, the standard opioid analgesic. |
| MTX | Methotrexate | Antimetabolite drug used once weekly in low doses for rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and other inflammatory diseases, and in high doses for leukemia, lymphoma and… |
| MVI | Multivitamin infusion | Injectable multivitamin product, such as Infuvite or M.V.I.-12, added to parenteral nutrition or IV fluids. |
| N2O | Nitrous oxide | Sweet-smelling gas known as laughing gas, used as a mild anesthetic in dentistry and childbirth, as the propellant in whipped-cream chargers and as a power booster in… |
| NAC | N-acetylcysteine | Antidote for acetaminophen overdose that replenishes glutathione and prevents liver injury when started early, ideally within 8 hours. |
| NE | Norepinephrine | Catecholamine vasopressor given by continuous IV infusion to raise blood pressure in shock. |
| Neo | Neo-Synephrine (phenylephrine) | Hospital nickname for phenylephrine, from the brand name Neo-Synephrine, that ISMP includes on its list of error-prone abbreviations. |
| nitro | Nitroglycerin | Common clinical shorthand for nitroglycerin in any form, as in "nitro paste", "nitro spray" or "nitro drip". |
| NPH | Neutral protamine Hagedorn (isophane insulin) | Intermediate-acting human insulin, sold as Humulin N and Novolin N, that starts working in 1 to 2 hours and lasts about 12 to 18 hours. |
| NTG | Nitroglycerin | Nitrate vasodilator used to relieve angina and treat acute heart failure and high blood pressure emergencies. |
| NTX | Naltrexone | Opioid receptor antagonist used to treat alcohol use disorder and opioid use disorder, taken as a 50 mg daily tablet or a monthly 380 mg intramuscular injection… |
| NVP | Nevirapine | Older non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor for HIV, historically important for preventing mother-to-child transmission with a single dose given in labor and… |
| ORS | Oral rehydration solution | Precisely balanced mixture of glucose, sodium, potassium and citrate or bicarbonate that is drunk to treat dehydration from diarrhea. |
| OXC | Oxcarbazepine | Antiseizure drug related to carbamazepine, used for focal seizures and off-label for bipolar disorder and nerve pain. |
| PB | Phenobarbital | Barbiturate antiseizure drug, the first-line treatment for neonatal seizures and an option for refractory status epilepticus and alcohol withdrawal. |
| PCC | Prothrombin complex concentrate | Plasma-derived concentrate of clotting factors II, IX and X (three-factor) or II, VII, IX and X (four-factor), used to rapidly reverse warfarin and, off-label, other… |
| PCM | Paracetamol | Abbreviation for paracetamol (acetaminophen) common in India, Malaysia, Singapore and other parts of Asia, where it appears on prescriptions, hospital charts and… |
| PCN | Penicillin | Abbreviation for penicillin, the first widely used antibiotic, and by extension the whole penicillin family. |
| PCP | Phencyclidine | Dissociative drug, known on the street as "angel dust", that causes hallucinations, agitation, numbness and sometimes violent behavior. |
| PE | Phenytoin sodium equivalents | Unit used to dose fosphenytoin, a prodrug of phenytoin: 1.5 mg of fosphenytoin is equivalent to 1 mg of phenytoin sodium and is labeled as 1 mg PE. |
| PED | Performance-enhancing drug | Any substance taken to improve athletic or physical performance, including anabolic steroids, erythropoietin, growth hormone, stimulants and, in precision sports… |
| Pen VK | Penicillin V potassium | Oral form of penicillin, chemically phenoxymethylpenicillin, used mainly for strep throat, dental infections and prevention of rheumatic fever. |
| PGE1 | Prostaglandin E1 (alprostadil) | Prostaglandin given by continuous IV infusion to keep the ductus arteriosus open in newborns with ductal-dependent congenital heart disease until surgery. |
| PGE2 | Prostaglandin E2 (dinoprostone) | Prostaglandin used to soften and open the cervix before labor induction, given as a vaginal insert (Cervidil) or gel (Prepidil). |
| PHT | Phenytoin | Older antiseizure drug used for focal and tonic-clonic seizures and status epilepticus. |
| pip-tazo | Piperacillin-tazobactam | Broad-spectrum IV antibiotic combining a penicillin with a beta-lactamase inhibitor, widely used for hospital-acquired infections, intra-abdominal infections and sepsis. |
| PNV | Prenatal vitamin | Multivitamin designed for pregnancy and the months before conception, containing folic acid to prevent neural tube defects, plus iron, iodine and often DHA. |
| PSE | Pseudoephedrine | Oral nasal decongestant, best known as Sudafed, that shrinks swollen nasal blood vessels. |
| PTU | Propylthiouracil | Antithyroid drug for hyperthyroidism, preferred in the first trimester of pregnancy and in thyroid storm, because it also blocks conversion of T4 to the more active T3. |
| PVP-I | Povidone-iodine | Iodine complexed with polyvinylpyrrolidone, sold as Betadine, used for surgical skin preparation, wound cleansing and, in a 5% ophthalmic solution, to prepare the eye… |
| PZA | Pyrazinamide | Antituberculosis drug used during the first two months of treatment for active TB, where it kills slowly dividing bacteria in acidic environments and allows the total… |
| RAL | Raltegravir | First integrase inhibitor for HIV, approved in 2007, still used for its few drug interactions, in pregnancy and in some post-exposure prophylaxis regimens. |
| rFVIIa | Recombinant activated factor VII | Clotting factor made by recombinant DNA technology, sold as NovoSeven, used to treat bleeding in hemophilia patients with inhibitors, congenital factor VII deficiency… |
| RhIG | Rho(D) immune globulin | Antibody preparation given to Rh-negative pregnant people to prevent them from forming antibodies against Rh-positive fetal blood, which would endanger future… |
| RIF | Rifampin | First-line antituberculosis antibiotic, known as rifampicin outside the US. |
| RIG | Rabies immune globulin | Antibodies against rabies given once, along with the first dose of rabies vaccine, to people exposed to a possibly rabid animal who have never been vaccinated. |
| RIPE | Rifampin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide and ethambutol | Standard four-drug regimen for drug-susceptible active tuberculosis: all four drugs for two months, followed by rifampin and isoniazid for four more months, for a… |
| RPV | Rilpivirine | Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor for HIV, found in Odefsey, Complera and Juluca and as a long-acting injection in Cabenuva. |
| RTV | Ritonavir | HIV protease inhibitor now used almost entirely as a booster: in small doses it blocks CYP3A4, raising levels of other drugs such as darunavir and lopinavir. |
| SAMe | S-adenosylmethionine | Naturally occurring compound involved in methylation reactions, sold in the US as a dietary supplement for depression, osteoarthritis and liver health. |
| SCIG | Subcutaneous immunoglobulin | Immunoglobulin replacement given under the skin, usually weekly by the patient at home with a small pump, for primary immunodeficiency and some neuropathies such as CIDP. |
| SNP | Sodium nitroprusside | Potent, fast-acting IV vasodilator used in hypertensive emergencies and acute heart failure, given only by continuous infusion with close blood pressure monitoring. |
| SOF | Sofosbuvir | Hepatitis C polymerase inhibitor that became the backbone of all-oral cures, alone as Sovaldi and combined with ledipasvir (Harvoni), velpatasvir (Epclusa) or… |
| SPS | Sodium polystyrene sulfonate | Ion-exchange resin, sold as Kayexalate, that binds potassium in the gut in exchange for sodium, used to lower high potassium levels. |
| SSKI | Saturated solution of potassium iodide | Concentrated potassium iodide liquid (about 1 g per mL) used to block thyroid hormone release in thyroid storm, to prepare patients with Graves disease for… |
| SSZ | Sulfasalazine | Anti-inflammatory drug combining a sulfa antibiotic with 5-aminosalicylic acid, used for ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory arthritis. |
| T3 | Tylenol with Codeine No. 3 | Informal abbreviation for the combination of acetaminophen 300 mg and codeine 30 mg, sold as Tylenol with Codeine No. 3. |
| TAC | Tacrolimus | Calcineurin inhibitor that is the main maintenance immunosuppressant after most kidney, liver and heart transplants. |
| TAF | Tenofovir alafenamide | Newer prodrug of tenofovir that delivers the drug more efficiently into cells, so lower doses produce less tenofovir in the blood and fewer kidney and bone effects than… |
| TDF | Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate | Nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor used to treat and prevent HIV and to treat chronic hepatitis B. |
| THC | Tetrahydrocannabinol | Main psychoactive compound in cannabis, responsible for the "high". |
| TIG | Tetanus immune globulin | Human antibodies against tetanus toxin, given for tetanus-prone wounds in people who have had fewer than three tetanus vaccine doses or an unknown history, and as part… |
| TMP-SMX | Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole | Combination antibiotic, also called co-trimoxazole and sold as Bactrim or Septra, used for urinary tract infections, MRSA skin infections and prevention and treatment… |
| TNK | Tenecteplase | Genetically modified tissue plasminogen activator given as a single IV bolus to dissolve clots in heart attacks and, increasingly, acute ischemic stroke. |
| tPA | Tissue plasminogen activator (alteplase) | Thrombolytic enzyme, sold as Activase, that dissolves clots by converting plasminogen to plasmin. |
| TPM | Topiramate | Antiseizure drug widely prescribed for migraine prevention and epilepsy, and combined with phentermine (Qsymia) for weight loss. |
| TXA | Tranexamic acid | Antifibrinolytic drug that slows clot breakdown, used to reduce bleeding in trauma, postpartum hemorrhage, surgery, heavy menstrual bleeding and dental procedures in… |
| U-100 | 100 units per milliliter | Standard insulin concentration in the US and most countries, meaning each milliliter contains 100 units. |
| U-500 | 500 units per milliliter (concentrated regular insulin) | Highly concentrated human regular insulin (Humulin R U-500) used by people with severe insulin resistance who need more than about 200 units a day. |
| vanc | Vancomycin | Shorthand for vancomycin, a glycopeptide antibiotic used IV for MRSA and other serious gram-positive infections and orally for C. difficile colitis. |
| vaso | Vasopressin | Clinical shorthand for vasopressin, the antidiuretic hormone given as a fixed-dose IV infusion, usually 0.03 units per minute, as a second vasopressor in septic shock. |
| VPA | Valproic acid | Broad-spectrum antiseizure drug and mood stabilizer, also used for migraine prevention. |
| Z-Pak | Azithromycin 5-day dose pack | Brand-name blister pack of six azithromycin 250 mg tablets, taken as two tablets on day 1 and one daily on days 2 to 5. |
| ZnSO4 | Zinc sulfate | Zinc salt used to treat zinc deficiency, given orally or added to parenteral nutrition. |
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