Pharmacy Sig Codes - Build Your Career in Pharmacy (2024)

What are Sig Codes?

Sig codes are important standard prescription abbreviations that doctors and other medical practitioners use in a prescription. While improving technology has decreased the number of handwritten prescriptions issued nowadays, it is vital for pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and pharmacy school students to know and remember these codes.

List of Sig Codes and Their Abbreviation Meaning

Sig codes indicate medication dosages, measurements, dosage times or frequency, and routes of administration to a pharmacist and a pharmacy technician. What follows is a list of the pharmacy abbreviations and the abbreviation meaning to those familiar with reading written prescriptions and the sig codes they include.

AAA – Affected area application
ac – before meals
ad – right ear
am – in the morning
amp – ampule
amp – ampicillin
APAP – acetaminophen
aq or H2O – water
as – left ear
au – each or both ears
AUD – apply as directed
bid or b.i.d. – twice a day
BOT – bottle
BP – blood pressure
c – with
C or c – 100
cap – capsule
cc – cubic centimeter
cf – with food
CF – cough/cold formula
cm – centimeter
CPM – chlorpheniramine
cr or cre – cream
CR – controlled release
D or d – 500
D/C or d/c – discontinue
DA – delayed action
DAW – dispense as written
dc or d/c – discontinue
DC – diagnosis code
dil – dilute
disp – dispense
dL – deciliter
DM – dextromethorphan
DR – delayed release
DS – double strength
DV – a daily value
EC or e.c. – enteric-coated
ECT – enteric-coated tablet
ER – extended release
fl – fluid
fl oz – fluid ounce
ft – feet
g, gm – gram
gal – gallon
GG -guaifenesin
GGPE – guaifenesin/phenylephrine
gr – grain
gtt – drop
h or hr – hour
HA – headache
HBP – high blood pressure
HC – hydrocodone or hydrocortisone
HCT or HCTZ – hydrochlorothiazide
hs – at bedtime
ht – height
HT or HTN – hypertension
I or i – 1
IM – intramuscular
in – inch
inh – inhalation
INH – isoniazid
inj – injection
IR – immediate release
IT or ITCH – itching
IU or I.U. – international unit
IV – intravenous
K – Potassium
KCl or KCL – Potassium Chloride
kg – kilogram
L or l – liter
L or l – 50
LA – long-acting
lb – pound
liq – liquid
lot – lotion
m – meter
M or m – 1,000
m² – square meters
mcg – microgram
mcL – microliter
MDI – metered dose inhaler
MDP Medrol Dose Pack
mEq – milliequivalent
Mg or Mag – Magnesium
mg – milligram
mg/dL – milligrams per deciliter of blood
mL- milliliter
mm Hg – millimeters of mercury
MTX – methotrexate
MVI – multiple or Multi-Vitamins
N/A or n/a – not available
N&V or N/V – nausea and vomiting
NA – nausea
Na – Sodium
NaCl – salt
NaHCO3 – sodium bicarbonate
NDC – national drug code
NEB or neb – nebulizer
No., no., Nos. or nos. – number/numbers
noct – at night
NPH – N (intermediate) insulin
NPI – National Provider Identifier
npo – nil per mouth
NR, N.R. or NRF – no refill
NS – nasal spray
NS – normal saline (0.9% sodium chloride)
NTG – nitroglycerin
NV – nausea and vomiting
od – right eye
ODT – orally disintegrating tablet
oint – ointment
OP, OPH, OPHT or OPHTH – ophthalmic
os – left eye
OTC – over the counter
ou – each or both eyes
oz – ounce
PA – prior authorization
PB or Pb – phenobarbital
pc – after meals
PCN – penicillin
pct – percent or percentage
PD – pediatric drop
PED – pediatric
PEG – polyethylene glycol
per – by or through
pH – acidity level
pkd – packaged
pkg – package
pkt – packet
pm – afternoon or in the evening
PMS – premenstrual syndrome
PNV – prenatal vitamins
po – by mouth
pp – postprandial (after eating)
PR – per rectum
prn – as needed
PSE – pseudoephedrine
pt – pint
pt or pt. – patient
PTU – propylthiouracil
q – every, each
qam – every morning
qd – daily
qdam – daily in the morning
qd pm – daily in the evening
qh – every hour
q12h – every 12 hours
q2-3h – every two to three hours
q24h – every 24 hours
q2-4h – every two to four hours
q4h – every four hours
q4-6h – every four to six hours
q4° – every four hours
q6° – every six hours
qhs – every night
qid or q.i.d. – four times a day
qod – every other day
qpm – every evening
q 8pm – every day at 8 p.m.
qs, QS or Q.S. – sufficient quantity
qt – quart
QTY or qty – quantity
qw – once a week
R – rectum, rectally
RA – rheumatoid arthritis
RF – refill
Rx – prescription
s – without
SA – sustained action
sc, sq or subq – subcutaneous (under the skin)
sig – signa (prescription directions)
SL or S.L. – sublingual (under the tongue)
SMZ-TMP – sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim
SOB – shortness of breath
SOD or sod – sodium
sol or soln – solution
SR – sustained release
ss – one half
stat – immediately
sup or supp – suppository
susp – suspension
syr – syrup
SYR – syringe
tab – tablet
tac or TAC – triamcinolone
tud or TUD – take as directed
tat or TAT – until all taken
tbsp – tablespoonful
TCN – tetracycline
tiw or t.i.w. – three times a week
TMP – trimethoprim
top – topical
tr – timed-release
tsp – teaspoonful
tud or TUD – take as directed
U – units
uad or UAD – use as directed
uat or UAT – until all taken
ud – as directed
ut dict – as directed
ung – ointment
UTI – urinary tract infection
V or v – 5
vag – vagin*lly
w/ – with
w/o – without
WA – while awake
WH – wheezing
wk – week
wt – weight
WZ – wheezing
X or x – 10
X or x – times
x 1 RF – times one refill
X 3 RF – times three refills
XL – extra long
XR – extended release

The Importance of Knowing Sig Codes

Memorizing Sig codes is of the utmost importance for all pharmacy staff designated to the task of filling prescriptions, as some of the most regular job functions carried out by pharmacy techs are decoding doctors’ prescriptions, translating them into dosages, and filling out directions on patients’ medication bottles and packets.

FAQs

What Does ‘Sig’ Mean?

Sig is an abbreviation of ‘signetur,’ a Latin word meaning ‘let it be labeled.’

Why are pharmacy Sig codes important?

Many pharmacies use Sig (or speed) codes to simplify and speed up the data entry process. Sig codes are often already programmed into a pharmacy computer system.

What are Sig codes used for?

Sig codes tell a pharmacy what to mark on a drug’s label. This helps you to know when and how to take the medication.