OUR LADY OF FATIMA UNIVERSITY

College of Pharmacy

PHARMACEUTICAL
CALCULATIONS
UNIT OUTCOMES

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UNIT OUTLINE

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REDUCING AND ENLARGING OF
FORMULAS

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REDUCING AND ENLARGING OF FORMULAS

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METHODS TO
REDUCE OR
ENLARGE
FORMULA
Ratio and Proportion

Dimensional analysis

Factor Method
Factor Method
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Steps in Factor Method
Example of factor method

Step 1 Step 2
𝑄𝑢𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑢𝑙𝑎 𝑑𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑑
Factor = 𝑄𝑢𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑢𝑙𝑎 𝑔𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑛 6 g x 0.06 = 0.36g
60 𝑚𝐿
Factor =
1000 𝑚𝐿

Factor = 0.06
 SAMPLE
PROBLEMS
SAMPLE PROBLEMS

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Factor Method 𝑄𝑢𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑢𝑙𝑎 𝑑𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑑
Factor = 𝑄𝑢𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑢𝑙𝑎 𝑔𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑛

240 𝑚𝐿
Factor =
1000 𝑚𝐿

Factor = 0.24

Calamine 80 g x 0.24 = 19.20 g

Zinc oxide 80 g x 0.24 = 19.20 g

Glycerin 20 mL x 0.24 = 4.80 mL

Bentonite magma 250 mL x 0.24 = 60 mL

Calcium hydroxide,
to make 1000 mL x 0.24 = 240 mL
Ratio and proportion Calamine
80 𝑔 𝑥
1000 𝑚𝐿 = 240 𝑚𝐿
(80 g) (240 mL) = (x) (1000 mL)
(1000 mL) (1000 mL)
x = 19.20 g
Zinc oxide
80 𝑔 𝑥
=
1000 𝑚𝐿 240 𝑚𝐿
(80 g) (240 mL) = (x) (1000 mL)
(1000 mL) (1000 mL)
x = 19.20 g
Glycerin
20 𝑚𝐿 𝑥
=
1000 𝑚𝐿 240 𝑚𝐿
(20 mL) (240 mL) (x) (1000 mL)
=
(1000 mL) (1000 mL)
x = 4.80 mL
 Bentonite magma
Ratio and proportion 250 𝑚𝐿 𝑥
1000 𝑚𝐿 = 240 𝑚𝐿
(250 mL) (240 mL) = (x) (1000 mL)
(1000 mL) (1000 mL)
x = 60 mL
Calcium hydroxide
1000 𝑚𝐿 𝑥
1000 𝑚𝐿 = 240 𝑚𝐿
(1000ml) (240 mL) (x) (1000 mL)
=
(1000 mL) (1000 mL)

x = 240 mL
Dimensional analysis Calamine
80 𝑔
𝑥 240 𝑚𝐿 = 19.20 𝑔
1000 𝑚𝐿
Zinc oxide
80 𝑔
𝑥 240 𝑚𝐿 = 19.20 𝑔
1000 𝑚𝐿
Glycerin
20 𝑚𝐿
𝑥 240 𝑚𝐿 = 4.80 mL
1000 𝑚𝐿
Bentonite magma
250 𝑚𝐿
𝑥 240 𝑚𝐿 = 60 mL
1000 𝑚𝐿
Calcium hydroxide
1000 𝑚𝐿
𝑥 240 𝑚𝐿 = 240 mL
1000 𝑚𝐿
2. Calculate the quantity of each ingredient required to
prepare a dozen 30-mL containers.
𝑄𝑢𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑢𝑙𝑎 𝑑𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑑 = 12 X 30 mL = 360 mL
𝑄𝑢𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑢𝑙𝑎 𝑔𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑛 = 100 mL
360 𝑚𝐿
Factor = 100 𝑚𝐿
Factor = 3.6

𝑄𝑢𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑢𝑙𝑎 𝑑𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑑

Factor = 𝑄𝑢𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑢𝑙𝑎 𝑔𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑛
PRESCRIPTION
PRESCRIPTION

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It contains names and quantities
of the desired substances, with
instructions for the pharmacist for
Prescription
the preparation of the medicine
and to the patient for the use of
the medicine at a particular time

a formula written on a piece of

paper

Written by pharmacist in pursuant to

the telephoned dictation of the
physician
 Prescription

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There are two broad legal classifications of medications:

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2.
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Prescription Form
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Types of Prescription
e-Prescribing/ e-Prescription

• is the computer-to-computer transfer of prescription

information between authorized prescribers, pharmacies,
intermediaries, and payers under nationally accepted
standards.
e-Prescribing/ e-Prescription

Advantages:
• reduced errors due to prescription legibility,
• concurrent software screens for drug allergies and drug interactions,
• integrated information exchange between health care providers,
• reduced incidence of altered or forged prescriptions,
• efficiency for both prescriber and pharmacist, and
• convenience to the patient, whose prescription would likely be ready or
pickup upon arrival at the pharmacy
PARTS OF PRESCRIPTION

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8.
 Patient Information

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 Date

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 Rx symbol or superscription

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 Medication prescribed or Inscription

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 Medication prescribed or Inscription

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Dispensing directions to the pharmacist or
Subscription

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Dispensing directions to the pharmacist or Subscription
 Directions for the patient or signa
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 Interpretation

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 Refill instructions

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 Name of the prescriber

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 SCHEDULES OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES
DRUG SCHEDULE DESCRIPTION EXAMPLE
Schedule I High potential for abuse; no heroin, marijuana, LSD, peyote, mescaline, psilocybin,
accepted medical use tetrahydrocannabinols (THC) and dihydromorphine and others.

Schedule II High potential for abuse;
Some accepted medical
use
Schedule III Some potential for abuse;
accepted medical use -
1.8% codeine)
controlled narcotic substances are opium, morphine, codeine,
hydromorphone (Dilaudid), methadone (Dolophine), pantopon,
meperidine (Demerol), cocaine, oxycodone (Percodan—in
combination with aspirin), ani- leridine (Leritine) and oxymorphone
(Numorphan).
Also in Schedule II are amphetamine (Benzedrine, Dexedrine)
and methamphetamine (Desoxyn), phenmetrazine (Preludin),
methylphenidate (Ritalin), amobarbital, pentobarbital,
secobarbital, etorphine hydrochloride, diphenoxylate and
phencyclidine.
limited quantities of certain narcotic drugs, and non- narcotic
drugs such as derivatives of barbituric acid except those that are
listed in another schedule, glutethimide, methyprylon (Noludar),
nalorphine, benzphetamine, chlor- phentermine, clortermine,
phendimetrazine and paregoric.
Any suppository dosage form containing amobarbital, secobarbital
or pentobarbital.
 SCHEDULES OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES
DRUG SCHEDULE DESCRIPTION EXAMPLE
Schedule IV Low potential for abuse; barbital, phenobarbital, methylphenobarbital, chloral betaine,
accepted medical use chloral hydrate, ethchlorvynol (Placidyl), ethinamate (Valmid),
meprobamate (Equanil, Mil- town), paraldehyde, methohexital,
fenfluramine, diethylpro- pion, phentermine, chlordiazepoxide
(Librium), diazepam (Valium), oxazepam (Serax), clorazepate
(Tranxene), flurazepam (Dalmane), clonazepam (Clonopin),
prazepam (Verstran), lorazepam (Ativan), mebutamate,
propoxyphene (Darvon) and pentazocine (Talwin-NX)
Schedule V Minimal abuse potential; Lomotil
widespread medical use
Hospital Medication Order

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 SELECTED
ABBREVIATIONS,
ACRONYMS, SYMBOLS
USED IN PRESCRIPTIONS
AND MEDICATION ORDERS
 Prescription filling direction

Abbreviation (Latin) Meaning

aa. (ana) of each M. (mice) mix
ad (ad) up to; to make No. (numero) number
disp. (dispensatur) dispense non rep. or NR (non repatatur) do not repeat
div. (dividatur) divide q.s. (quantum sufficit) a sufficient quantity
d.t.d. (dentur talesdoses) give of such doses q.s. ad (quantum sufficiat ad) a sufficient quantity to
ft (fiat) make make

Sig. (Signa) write (directions on label)

 Quantities and Measurement
BSA body surface area mg/m2 milligrams (of drug) per square meter
cm3 cubic centimeter or milliliter (mL) (of body surface area)
f or fl (fluidus) fluid mIU or milli-IU thousandth of an international unit
flʒ or fʒ fluid dram MIU million international units
g gram mL milliliter
gal gallon mL/h milliliters (of drug administered) per
gtt (gutta) drop hour (as through intravenous
I.U. or IU international unit(s) administration)
lb (libra) pound mOsm or mOsmol milliosmoles
kg kilogram oz. ounce
L liter pt. pint
m2 or M2 square meter qt. quart
mcg microgram ss or ss (semissem) one-half
mEq milliequivalent tbsp. tablespoonful
mg milligram tsp. teaspoonful
mg/kg milligrams (of drug) per kilogram
(of body weight)
Signa/ Patient Instruction

a.c. (ante cibos) before meals p.c. (post cibos) after meals
ad lib. (ad libitum) at pleasure, freely pm (postmeridiem) afternoon; evening
admin administer p.o. (per os) by mouth (orally)
am (antemeridiem) morning p.r.n. (pro re nata) as needed
aq. (aqua) water q (quaque) every
ATC around the clock qAM every morning
b.i.d. (bis in die) twice a day q4h, q8h, etc. every (number) hours
c or c (cum) with q.i.d. (quarter in die) four times a day
d (die) day rep. (repetatur) repeat
dil. (dilutus) dilute s (sine) without
et and s.i.d. (semel in die) once a day
h. or hr. (hora) hour s.o.s. (si opus sit) if there is need; as needed
h.s. (hora somni) at bedtime stat. (stamin) immediately
i.c. (inter cibos) between meals t.i.d. (ter in die) three times a day
min. (minutum) minute ut dict. (ut dictum) as directed
m&n morning and night wk. week
N&V nausea and vomiting
noct. (nocte) night
NPO (non per os) nothing by mouth
Medications

APAP acetaminophen
ASA aspirin
AZT zidovudine
EES erythromycin ethylsuccinate
HC hydrocortisone
HCTZ hydrochlorothiazide
MTX methotrexate
NSAID nonsteroidal anti-
inflammatory drug
NTG nitroglycerin
Clinical
HA headache
HBP high blood pressure
Afib atrial fibrillation
HR heart rate
ADR adverse drug reaction
BM bowel movement HRT hormone replacement therapy
BP blood pressure HT or HTN hypertension
BS blood sugar IOP intraocular pressure
CAD coronary artery disease MI myocardial ischemia/infarction
CHD coronary heart disease OA osteoarthritis
CHF congestive heart failure Pt patient
COPD chronic obstructive pulmonary QL quality of life
disease RA rheumatoid arthritis
GERD gastrointestinal reflux disease
SOB shortness of breath
CRF chronic renal failure
TPN total parenteral nutrition
CV cardiovascular
UA urine analysis
ENT ears, nose, and throat
GI gastrointestinal URI upper respiratory infection
GFR glomerular filtration rate UTI urinary tract infection
GU genitourinary
 Dosage forms or Vehicle
amp. ampul pulv. (pulvis) powder
cap. capsule RL, R/L or LR Ringer’s lactate or lactated
D5LR dextrose 5% in lactated Ringer’s Ringer’s
D5NS dextrose 5% in normal saline sol. (solutio) solution
(0.9% sodium chloride) supp. (suppositorium) suppository
D 5W dextrose 5% in water susp. suspension
D10W dextrose 10% in water syr. (syrupus) syrup
elix. elixir tab. (tabletta) tablet
inj. injection
NS normal saline
1/2NS half-strength normal saline
oint or ungt.(unguentum) ointment
 Routes or Location of Administration
a.d. (auris dextro) right ear o.d. (oculo dextro) right eye
a.s. (auris sinistro) left ear o.s. (oculo sinistro) left eye
a.u. (auris utro) each ear (both) o.u. (oculo utro) each eye (both)
CIVI continuous (24 hours) p.o. or PO (per os) by mouth
intravenous rect. (or pro recto) rectal or
infusion rectum
ID intradermal SL sublingual
Inj njection SubQ or SC subcutaneously
IM intramuscular Top. topically
IT intrathecal V or PV (pro vagina) vaginally
IV intravenous
IVB intravenous bolus
IV drip intravenous infusion
IVP intravenous push
IVPB intravenous piggyback
NGT nasogastric tube
Example: (Direction to the pharmacist)

Disp. supp. rect. no. xii

Dispense 12 rectal suppositories.
M. ft. iso. sol. Disp. 120 mL
Mix and make an isotonic solution. Dispense 120 mL.
M. et div. in pulv. no. xl
Mix and divide into 40 powders.
DTD vi. Non rep.
Dispense six such doses. Do not repeat.
M. et ft. ung. Disp. 10 g
Mix and make ointment. Dispense 10 g.
Example: (Direction to patient)
Example: (Taken from medication order)
AMBIEN 10 mg p.o. qhs × 5 d
AMBIEN 10 mg by mouth at every bedtime for 5 days

1000 mL D5W q. 8 h. IV c 20 mEq KC1 to every third bottle

1000 mL of 5% dextrose in watercevery 8 hours intravenously with 20
milliequivalents of potassium chloride added to every third bottle

Admin. prochlorperazine 10 mg IM q. 3 h. prn N&V

Administer 10 mg of prochlorperazine intramuscularly every 3 hours, if there
is need, for nausea and vomiting.

Minocycline HCl susp. 1 tsp p.o. q.i.d. DC after 5 d

One teaspoonful of minocycline hydrochloride suspension by mouth four
times a day. Discontinue after 5 days.
 TYPES OF
PRESCRIPTION
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Erroneous Prescriptions

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Violative Prescriptions
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Impossible Prescriptions

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 END OF
DISCUSSION
REFERENCES

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Thanks!