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Chapter 6
Oral Medication Labels
and Dosage Calculation
Copyright © 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Oral Doses
• Most consist of half to three tablets or
capsules, or half to double the mL volume
in liquid medications
Copyright © 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Drug Label Information
• Trade or brand name
– Capitalized
• Generic or official name
– Lowercase
• Strength in metric measure
– Always has unit of measure
Copyright © 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Dosage Strength on Label
• Dosage strength always has unit of measure
associated with it
– e.g., mcg, mg, units
• Unit of measure is metric or household
Copyright © 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Labels
• Extra numbers after drug name may be used
to identify dosage strengths of more than
one drug in a preparation
• Extra initials may be used to identify special
drug action
Copyright © 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Combination Drugs
• Tablets and capsules that contain more than
one drug usually prescribed by trade name
and number of tablets or capsules to be
given
– Rather than dosage
– e.g., Percocet™
Copyright © 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Safety Point
• For safety in medication administration,
focus on drug name and its dosage strength
• Question any prescriptions that require
unusual number of tablets or capsules
– More than three
• Warning of error in prescribing,
transcribing, or calculation
Copyright © 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
More Label Information
• The letters USP (United States
Pharmacopeia) and NF (National
Formulary) on drug labels identify official
generic listing
Copyright © 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Drug Label Information
• Manufacturer
• Lot number
• Expiration date
– Must check before administering
Copyright © 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Other Label Information
• If drug in multiple dose containers, number
of tablets or capsules in container will be on
label
Copyright © 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Liquid Oral Medications
• In addition, labels for liquid oral
medications state dosage strength in both:
– Unit of measure
• e.g., mg, mcg, g, etc.
– Amount of dosage strength in mL of fluid
Copyright © 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Liquid Oral Medications
• Smaller volumes may be measured in oral
or hypodermic (without needle) syringes
• Larger volumes usually measured in
calibrated medicine cup
– 20 mL or more
Copyright © 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Multiple Drug Preparations
• Preparations containing multiple drugs list
name and dosage of each drug
– e.g., Percocet contains oxycodone 5 mg and
acetaminophen 325 mg
Copyright © 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Safety Point
• Labels do not state amount of
tablets/capsules or solution contained in
prescribed dose
Copyright © 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Safety Point
• When using calibrated medicine cup for
liquid oral medications:
– Pour safely at eye level
– Always read calibrations carefully
• Most contain several seldom-used units of measure
Copyright © 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Safety Point
• Care must be taken not to use oral syringes
for hypodermic medication preparation
– Oral syringes are not sterile
Copyright © 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.