Abbreviations in Prescritption (4 of 7): UNITS OF MEASURE (Inscription or Subscription)

Units of Measure used in the Inscription-Subscription

cc., cc	cubic centimeter, USP states 1 cc is equivalent to 1 ml
fl, fld.	specifies that the measure is a fluid measure
g., gm	Gram, NB don't confuse with gr.
gr., gr	Grain, NB don't confuse with g.
gtt.	Drop, In general not a rigidly standardized measure.  Modern preparations are dispensed with the calibrated dropper included with the manufactured product.
mcg., mcg	Microgram, NB don't confuse with mg.
mEq	Milliequivalent
mg., mg	Milligram, NB don't confuse with mcg
ml., mL.	Milliliter, USP states that 1 cc is equivalent to 1 ml, NB, don't confuse
mOsm, mOsmol	Milliosmole
O.	Apothecary pint
oz.	ounce
Parts	Some formulas indicate the ratio of ingredient quantities to each other.  In a formula given in terms of parts by weight, any unit of weight may be used, but it must be applied to all components.  In a formula given in parts by volume, any unit of volume may be used, provide that all components have the same units.
Ratio Strength	Ratio strength is a way of representing the concentration of a formula component.  It is denoted in terms of total amount of solution or mixture that contains one unit of solute.  A 1:25 solution of cinnamon oil means that 1 ml of cinnamon oil is contained in each 25 ml of solution.  N.B. the second number in the ratio does not describe the quantity of solvent, but the total quantity of solution.  If the solute is a liquid the solution is assumed to be a v/v mixture.  For solid solutes its assumed to be a w/v mixture. When the denominator of the ratio is 100, the concentration is denoted as Percentage Strength.
ss., ss	one half
tbl.	tablespoonful, a household measure, nominal value 15 ml.
tsp.	teaspoonful, a household measure, nominal value, 5 ml
U, u, I.U.	Unit, International Unit.  potency of many antibiotics and endocrine preparations are expressed in terms of official USP units.  These units are specific for each substance and determined by an official USP biological activity test
NB.  Sometimes the unit abbreviations for quantities are absent in the formula.  When absent, units for weight are presumed to be gram, g, and for volume presumed to be milliliter, mL

To see more abbreviations used in prescription click on the respective links, given below:

Abbreviations in Prescritption (1 of 7):	DOSAGE FORMS (Subscription or Signa)
Abbreviations in Prescritption (2 of 7):	PRESCRIPTION FORMULA (Inscription)
Abbreviations in Prescritption (3 of 7):	DIRECTIONS FOR THE PHARMACIST ( Subscription)
Abbreviations in Prescritption (4 of 7):	UNITS OF MEASURE (Inscription or Subscription)
Abbreviations in Prescritption (5 of 7):	DIRECTIONS TO THE PATIENT OR INSTRUCTIONS TO CARE PROVIDERS CONCERNING DOSE AND DOSING FREQUENCY (Signa)
Abbreviations in Prescritption (6 of 7):	DIRECTIONS TO THE PATIENT OR INSTRUCTIONS TO CARE PROVIDERS (Signa)
Abbreviations in Prescritption (7 of 7):	ROUTE OF ADMINISTRATION OR ADMINISTRATION SITE (Inscription or Subscription)