Oral medications are administered "P.O."
When a medication is administered PO (per os), it means it is taken orally, typically in the form of a tablet, capsule, or liquid. This route allows the medication to be absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract before entering the bloodstream. Oral administration is convenient and commonly used, but it may have a slower onset of action compared to other routes such as intravenous. Additionally, some medications may be affected by food or digestive conditions, which can influence their effectiveness.
"20 mg PO OD" means that a patient should take 20 milligrams of a medication by mouth (PO, which stands for "per os") once daily (OD, which stands for "omnis die"). This dosing instruction indicates the amount of medication to be taken and how frequently it should be administered, ensuring proper adherence to the prescribed regimen.
Medication orders
Acetaminophen
Ipecac Syrup
syrup of ipecac
Administer 0.05 ml of the medication.
Topical medication is administered on the skin or mucous membranes.
Nitroglycerin
tranquilizers
antidepressant
antidepressants