General
po
What does po mean?
Indicates that a medication is to be taken orally rather than by injection or other route.
"Switch her antibiotics from IV to PO now that she's tolerating food."
Origin
Abbreviation of Latin 'per os' meaning 'through the mouth.'
Frequently asked questions
What does PO mean in medicine?
It means by mouth: the medication is taken orally rather than by injection or another route.
What does PO stand for?
It comes from the Latin 'per os,' meaning through the mouth.
Why switch a patient from IV to PO?
Once a patient can eat and drink and is stable, oral medication is often preferred because it is less invasive and allows removal of the IV line.
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