Sig code: route

IN medical abbreviation

IN means "intranasal".

On the ISMP List of Error-Prone Abbreviations. ISMP suggests: Write "intranasal".

Each meaning matched at least two public references (2 in all for IN), checked October 23, 2026. The table lists them.

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What IN means

MeaningLatin originWhere usedChecked against
intranasalNonePrescriptions, Medication labels

Example

Training example of an error-prone entry: "IN" on an order.

A made-up line that shows the abbreviation in place. It is not about any patient and is not an instruction.

Related abbreviations

  • POby mouth
  • IVintravenous
  • IMintramuscular
  • NPOnothing by mouth
  • ODright eye; once daily
  • OSleft eye

Elsewhere on Rivvi

Questions

What does IN mean in medical terms?

IN means "intranasal".

Where is IN used?

IN shows up in prescriptions and medication labels. Its category here is sig code: route.

Is IN on the Joint Commission Do Not Use list?

No, but ISMP lists IN as an error-prone abbreviation. ISMP's suggested practice: Write "intranasal".

Source: NLM SPECIALIST Lexicon abbreviations file (LRABR); ISMP List of Error-Prone Abbreviations, Symbols, and Dose Designations (2024). Data as of October 23, 2026. Last updated October 23, 2026. How we source data. Spotted an error? Send a correction.

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