mEq

Medical abbreviation · Prescription

mEq
Stands forMilliequivalent
CategoriesMedical

mEq stands for Milliequivalent, a prescription abbreviation.

Unit expressing the amount of an electrolyte by its chemical combining power rather than its weight. Potassium, sodium bicarbonate and other electrolyte supplements are ordered in mEq, and serum sodium and potassium are often reported in mEq/L.

Example: KCl 20 mEq PO BID while on furosemide; recheck BMP Monday.

Usage notes

For a monovalent ion such as potassium, 1 mEq equals 1 mmol; for divalent ions such as calcium or magnesium, 1 mmol equals 2 mEq. International laboratories increasingly report electrolytes in mmol/L. Pronounced "milli-equivalent" or as the letters.

More prescription abbreviations

  • HS – Hora somni (at bedtime)
  • IU – International unit
  • LD – Loading dose
  • mane – Mane (in the morning)
  • mcg – Microgram
  • mcg/kg/min – Micrograms per kilogram per minute
  • mg/kg – Milligrams per kilogram
  • mg/m2 – Milligrams per square meter
  • mL/h – Milliliters per hour
  • nocte – Nocte (at night)
  • non rep – Non repetatur (do not repeat)
  • NR – No refills

See all 77 prescription abbreviations →

Edited by the AbbreviationList.com team. Spotted an error or a missing meaning? Contact us.

This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.