Administering Medications (RD)

> Opthalmic Instillation

> Otic Instillation
> Injections
 
III. Dosage and Calculations

Common Conversions
1 kg = 2.2 pounds 2 cups= 1 pint
1 ml = 1 cc 2 pints = 1 quart
30 ml = 1 oz 1 kg = 1000 gms
5 ml = 1 tsp 1 gm = 1000 mgs
15 ml = 1 tbsp 1 mg = 1000 mcgs
1 tbsp = 3 tsp 1 L – 1000 ml
1 cup = 8 oz 60 minutes = 1 hour

Calculating Dosages for Oral Medications

Formula:
Expressed mathematically as an equation this is:

Number of tablets = Dose prescribed

Dose per tablet
Example: a doctor prescribes a dose of 15 mg of a drug. This drug
is supplied in 5 mg tablets. How many tablets are given?
Number of tablets= Dose prescribed
Stock on hand
= 15 mg
5 mg
= 3 tablets
Key point: You must make sure that the units are the same for both
the prescribed dosage and dosage per tablet.
 
Calculating Dosages for Parenteral Medications

Example: a vial contains 1 mg of a drug in 10 ml of solution. How

many millilitres need to be drawn up for a dose of 500 micrograms?
The first step is to convert the 1 mg dose to micrograms:
1 mg = 1 × 1000 micrograms = 1000 micrograms
The second step uses the equation:

Number of ml = Dose prescribed

Stock on Hand
a) Number of ml = 500 mcg
1000 mcg
= 5 ml
 
Example: a vial contains 1 mg of a drug in 10 ml of solution. How
many milliliters need to be drawn up for a dose of 50 mcg?