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Marina

Abbreviations and Acronyms

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Sluggish
Marina

Below is a complete list of acronyms/abbreviations commonly used in relation to MS, in medicine or elsewhere, many of which are also used here in forum topics (or elsewhere on this site). Whenever you see any of these, they will be underlined with small dots - same as they are in this list. If you click/tap on the abbreviation, it will open a pop-up showing you the meaning of the abbreviation.

 

If there are any we’ve forgotten, please feel free to send me a PM with the abbreviation.

 

Note: when writing in topics, be aware that if you were to write in ALL CAPS (which isn’t advised as it’s considered SHOUTING), and you write something like:
“I’M SITTING ON THIS NICE CHAIR”
it will interpret as acronyms any words in ALL CAPS which are also abbreviations.

 

ACT  -  Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
ACTH  -  Adrenocorticotrophic Hormone
ACTRIMS  -  Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis

AED  -  Anti-Epileptic Drug

ALS  -  Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, aka Lou Gehrig's Disease

APS  -  Antiphospholipid Syndrome, sometimes known as Hughes Syndrome or as “sticky blood”
BP  -  Blood Pressure
CBC  -  Complete Blood Count
CBT  -  Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
CCSVI  -  Chronic Cerebro-Spinal Venous Insufficiency
CIS  -  Clinically Isolated Syndrome
CNS  -  Central Nervous System
CSF  -  Cerebrospinal Fluid
CUPID  -  Cannabinoid Use in Progressive Inflammatory brain Disease
DDA  -  Disability Discrimination Act, Equality Act
DIAL  -  Disability Information and Advice Line
DLA  -  Disability Living Allowance
DMD/ DMT  - Disease Modifying Drug or Therapy
DVT  -  Deep Vein Thrombosis
DX  -  Diagnosis or Diagnosed
EBV  -  Epstein Barr Virus, which causes Glandular Fever
ECTRIMS  -  European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis
EDSS  -  Expanded Disability Status Scale
EPP  -  Expert Patient Programme
FES  -  Functional Electrical Stimulation

FND  -  Functional Neurological Disorder
GERD  -  Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, Acid Reflux, Heartburn
HBOT/ HBO/ HDOT  -  Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, aka High Dose Oxygen Therapy
HIA  -  Home Improvement Agencies
HLA  -  Human Leukocyte Antigen
HRT  -  Hormone Replacement Therapy
HSCT/ AHSCT/ ASCT  -  Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, a form of stem cell therapy
ISC  -  Intermittent Self-Catheterisation
ITB  -  Intrathecal Baclofen
LDN  -  Low Dose Naltrexone
LP  -  Lumbar Puncture
ME/ CFS/ PVFS/ ME- CFS  -  Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, aka Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or Post Viral Fatigue Syndrome
MCH  -  Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin
MCV  -  Mean Corpuscular Volume
MRI  -  Magnetic Resonance Imaging
MSer/ PWMS  -  A person or people with MS
MSIF  -  MS International Federation
MSRC  -  Multiple Sclerosis Resource Centre, now MS-UK (charity)
MSS  -  MS Society
NEDA  -  No Evidence of Disease Activity
NICE  -  National Institute for health and Clinical Excellence
NSAID  -  Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug
NMO  -  Neuromyelitis Optica, aka Devic’s disease
OCD  -  Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
ON  -  Optic Neuritis
OT  -  Occupational Therapist
PALS  -  Patient Advice and Liaison Services
PEM  -  Post-Exertional Malaise
PIP  -  Personal Independence Payment
PML  -  Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy
PPC  -  Pre-Payment Certificates for prescriptions
PPMS  -  Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis
RA  -  Rheumatoid Arthritis
RIMS  -  Rehabilitation in Multiple Sclerosis
RRMS  -  Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis
SLE  -  Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
SLT  -  Speech and Language Therapy
SMC  -  Scottish Medicines Consortium
SPMS  -  Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis
SX  -  Symptom or Symptoms
TIA  -  Transient Ischemiac Attack, a very mild stroke that may not even have symptoms
TCM  -  Traditional Chinese Medicine
TENS  -  Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation
TiMS  -  Therapists in MS
TM  -  Transverse Myelitis
TMJ  -  Temporomandibular Joint
TN  -  Trigeminal Neuralgia
TSH  -  Thyroid Stimulating Hormone
UKMSSNA  -  UK MS Specialist Nurse Association
UTI  -  Urinary Tract Infection
VER/ VEP/ EP  -  Evoked Potentials, aka Visual Evoked Response, aka Visual Evoked Potentials

 

Some of these also appear as links to websites about them in our Resources section.


Common Abbreviations Used in Prescriptions

 

These are included for your reference and aren’t underlined as acronyms. The abbreviations originate from the Latin terms in italics.

 

a.c.  -  before food (ante cibum)
b.d.  -  twice daily (bis die)
o.d.  -  daily (omni die)
o.m.  -  in the morning (omni mane)
o.n.  -  at night (omni nocte)
p.c.  -  after food (post cibum)
p.r.n.  -  when required (pro re nata)
q.d.s.  -  four times daily (quater die sumendum)
q.q.h.  -  every four hours (quarta quaque hora)
stat.  -  immediately (statim)
t.d.s.  -  three times daily (ter die sumendum)
t.i.d.  -  three per day (ter in die)

POM  -  Prescription-Only Medicine

 


Edited by Marina
Updated

Marina

(belated DX in June '05, SPMS)

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