Pharmacology Tips This is an INTRODUCTORY course It will NOT cover all you need to know, but help you know how to find information for safe medication administration LISTEN to lecture & discussion Learn major classifications of medications Review “Patient Teaching Tips” and “Take Home Points”
Pharmacology Introduction Dosage Calculation
Units of Measure Apothecary Measures grains, drams, minims Metric Measures milliliters, centimeters, kilograms, liters Household Measures teaspoons, ounces, drops
Apothecary Rarely used Convert to metric ASAP - to prevent med errors Use Equivalents Table or metric “clock” 60 mg gr 1 gr 1/415 mg gr 1/2 30 mg gr 3/4 45 mg 10 mg gr 1/6
Converting in the Metric System Move decimal point left or right to change 1 G = 1000mg KingHenryDiedMondayDrinkingChocolateMilk KiloHectoDekaMeterDeciCentimilli Liter Gram
How to Convert Dimensional Analysis Sec. x min./sec. x hrs./min. = ______hr Ratio-Proportion Sec/min = Min/? Desire over Have times Quantity D/H x Q = amount needed
Be Consistent Decide on a method of conversion that is comfortable to you Consistently use the same method Make it a habit to label you work Write down all the steps – taking shortcuts often leads to mistakes
Equivalents Certain ones should be committed to memory for quick calculation Tables in drug handbooks and Taber’s Basic equivalents within a system 1000 mg = 1 gm 1 cc = 1 mm Standard equivalents between systems 1 tsp = 5 cc = 60 gtt 2.2 lb = 1 kg
Approximate Equivalents 1 gr = 60 mg 15 gr = 1 g = 1000 mg 1000mcg = 1 mg 1 kg = 2.2 lb 1 ml = 15 minims 4 ml = 1 dr 5 ml = 1 tsp 30 ml = 1 oz = 2 Tbs = 6 tsp = 8 dr 500 ml = 1 pt = 16 oz 1000 ml = 1 L = 1 qt = 32 oz Taken from: J. M. Daniels & L. M. Smith Clinical Calculations, A Unified Approach, 5th ed. Clifton Park, NY: Thomson Delmar.
Abbreviations Key gr = graindr = dram mg = milligramtsp = teaspoon g = gramoz = ounce kg = kilogramTbs = Tablespoon lb = poundpt = pint gtt = dropL = liter ml = milliliterqt = quart