Abbreviation for Drug Form

Abbreviation Meaning
cap or caps Capsules
Crm Cream
Elix Elixir
Gtts Drops
MDI Metered-dose inhaler
NPO Nothing by mouth; not a drug form but means the patient is not to receive any medications administered orally
PO or po By mouth, orally, or swallowed
PR Suppository (when written after the drug name)
SL Sublingual form
sol or soln Solution
supp Suppository
susp Suspension
SVN Small volume nebulizer
Syr Syrup (syr is also used as an abbreviation for syringe)
tab or tabs Tablets
Ung ointment
Source: Understanding Pharmacy Calculations 2012, 2nd ed, by T.A. O’ Sullivan, L.S. Albrecht, APhA