"AQ" in Medicine: Aqueous Solution Abbreviation Explained

In medical and pharmaceutical contexts, "aq" or "AQ" stands for aqueous – indicating water as the solvent or vehicle.

Common Usage

• Prescriptions/Orders: "Morphine 10 mg/mL aq" = aqueous solution
• Lab labels: "NaCl 0.9% aq" = normal saline
• Chemistry notations: "HCl (aq)" = hydrochloric acid dissolved in water
• IV admixtures: "D5W aq" = dextrose 5% in water

Contrast with Other Vehicles

Abbreviation	Meaning	Example
aq / AQ	Aqueous (water-based)	Lidocaine 1% aq
oil / OLE	Oil-based	Testosterone cypionate oil
emul	Emulsion	Propofol 1% emulsion
susp	Suspension	Depo-Medrol suspension

Always clarify ambiguous abbreviations in clinical orders to prevent medication errors.