Download Pharmacology - Chipola College

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
45 mg
10 mg
gr 1/6
gr 1/4
gr 3/4
gr 1/2
30 mg
15 mg
Converting in the Metric System
 Move decimal point left or right to change
 1 G = 1000mg
King
Henry
Died
Monday
Drinking
Chocolate
Milk
Kilo
Hecto
Deka
Meter
Deci
Centi
milli
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. 2005. Clinical Calculations, A Unified Approach, 5th ed. Clifton Park, NY: Thomson Delmar.
Abbreviations








Key
gr = grain
mg = milligram
g = gram
kg = kilogram
lb = pound
gtt = drop
ml = milliliter
dr = dram
tsp = teaspoon
oz = ounce
Tbs = Tablespoon
pt = pint
L = liter
qt = quart