IVPB
Medical abbreviation · Medication Route
| Stands for | Intravenous piggyback |
|---|---|
| Categories | Medical |
IVPB stands for Intravenous piggyback, a medication route abbreviation.
Small-volume infusion, typically 50 to 250 mL, connected as a secondary line to the main IV tubing and run over 15 to 60 minutes, most often for antibiotics and electrolytes. The piggyback bag hangs higher than the primary bag so it runs first.
Example: Cefepime 2 g IVPB q8h over 30 minutes.
Usage notes
The name comes from the secondary bag "riding" on the primary line. Modern smart pumps program secondary infusions separately, and mistakes in the clamp or bag height can let the primary fluid run instead. Pharmacies often prepare IVPBs from frozen premixes or vial-and-bag systems such as Mini-Bag Plus.
Related abbreviations
More medication route abbreviations
- inj – Injection
- IO – Intraosseous
- IP – Intraperitoneal
- IT – Intrathecal
- IV – Intravenous
- IVP – Intravenous push
- NEB – Nebulizer, nebulized
- NG – Nasogastric
- NJ – Nasojejunal
- OD – Oculus dexter (right eye)
- OG – Orogastric
- ophth – Ophthalmic
See all 41 medication route abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.