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 60 mg Table or metric “clock”
gr 1 45 mg 10 mg gr 1/6 gr 1/4 15 mg
gr 3/4
gr 1/2 30 mg
Converting in the Metric System
Move decimal point left or right to change
1 G = 1000mg
King Kilo
Henry Hecto
Died Deka
Monday Meter Liter Gram
Drinking Deci
Chocolate Centi
Milk milli
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