Commonly Used Medical Abbreviations

Here are common medical abbreviations used by doctors and first responders. It's important to note that medication abbreviations can be dangerous if misinterpreted, so it's important to use them with caution and always double-check to make sure they are being understood correctly. Additionally, some abbreviations may vary by region or institution, so it's always a good idea to clarify any abbreviations that you are not familiar with.

• Atrial Fibrillation: A-Fib

• Allergy/Allergic To: ALGY

• Aortic Valve Replacement: AVR

• Aspirin: ASA

• Blood Pressure: BP

• Cancer: CA

• Chronic Kidney Disease: CKD

• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: COPD

• Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia: CAH

• Congestive Heart Failure: CHF

• Coronary Artery Disease: CAD

• Coronary Heart Disease: CHD

• Cystic Fibrosis: CF

• Deep Vein Thrombosis: DVT

• Defibrillate/Defibrillation: DEFIB

• Diabetic Ketoacidosis: DKA

• Diabetes Mellitus: DM

• Diagnosis or Disease: DX/DIAG

• Discontinue: D/C

• Do Not Resuscitate: DNR

• Epinephrine: EPI

• Epinephrine Pen (auto-injector): EPIPEN

• Erythromycin Ethylsuccinate: EES

• History: HX

• Hypertension: HTN

• In Case of Emergency: ICE

• Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus: IDDM

• Intravenous: IV

• Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura: ITP

• Medication(s)/Prescription(s): MED/MEDS/RX/RXS

• Mitral Valve Prolapsed: MVP

• Nasogastric: NG

• No Known Allergies: NKA

• No Known Drug Allergies: NKDA

• Penicillin: PCN

• Tetracycline: TCN

• Tracheal/Tracheotomy: TRACH

• Transplant or Treatment: TX (requires context)

• Von Willebrand’s Disease: VW or VWD