Principle of pharmacy

Lecture II

Present by
Dr. Lecturer
Saeed Abdul Kareem Saeed AL- Zuhairy
2023-2024
 Measure of
Length
The meter is the primary unit of length in the SI The
table of metric length:
1 kilometer (km) = 1000 meters
1 hectometer (hm) = 100meters
1 dekameter (dam) = 10 meters

Measure of Volume
1 kiloliter (kL) = 1000 liters
1 hectoliter (hL) = 100 liters
1 dekaliter (daL) = 10 liters
1 liter (L) = 1.000 liter
1 deciliter (dL) = 0.100 liter
1 centiliter (cL) = 0.010 liter
1 milliliter (mL) = 0.001 liter
1 microliter (µL) = L) = 0.000,001 liter
 Measure of
Weight
The primary unit of weight in the SI is the gram, which is the
weight of 1 cm3 of water at 4 C, its temperature of greatest density.

1 kilogram (kg) = 1000 grams

1 hectogram (hg) = 100 grams
1 dekagram (dag) = 10grams
1 gram (g) = 1gram
1 decigram (dg) = 0.1000 gram
1 centigram (cg) = 0.010 gram
1 milligram (mg) = 0.001 gram
1 microgram (µg or mcg) = 0.000,001 gram
1 nanogram (ng) = 0.000,000,001 gram
1 picogram (pg) = 0.000,000,000,001 gra
Examples:
Reduce 1.23 kilograms to grams

Reduce 9876 milligrams to grams.

9876 mg = 9.876 g

Reduce 2.525 liters to microliters.

2.525 L =2525 mL = 2,525,000 µL,
H.W:
A capsule contains the following amounts of medicinal substances:
0.075 g, 20 mg, 0.0005 g, 4 mg, and 500 g. What is the total weight
of the substances in the capsule?

H.W:
A prescription calls for 0.06 g of one ingredient, 2.5 mg of
another, and enough of a third to make 0.5 g. How many
milligrams of the third ingredient should be used?
 Prescription Writing Style Using the
SI
Prescriptions written in the SI use Arabic numerals before the
abbreviations for the denominations (e.g., 6 g). Quantities of
weight are usually written as grams and decimals of a gram, and
volumes as milliliters and decimals of a milliliter

Example:
Rx
Dextromethorphan HBr 320 mg
Guiafenesin 3.2 g
Cherry Syrup, to make 240 mL
TABLE : SOME USEFUL
EQUIVALENTS of Length
1 inch = 2.54 cm
1 meter (m) = 39.37 in
Equivalents of Volume
1 fluidounce (fl. oz.) = 29.57 mL
1 pint (16 fl. oz.) = 473 mL
1 quart (32 fl. oz.) = 946 mL
1 gallon, US (128 fl. oz.) = 3785 mL
1 gallon, UK = 4545 mL
Equivalents of Weight
1 pound (lb, Avoirdupois) = 454 g
1 kilogram (kg) = 2.2 lb
 Particle Size and Nanotechnology
Drug particle size has long been an important consideration in
pharmaceutical technology.
Through the milling and reduction of drug materials to micron
and nano size, the surface area of particles is increased, and
pharmaceutical and clinical benefits often accrue.
These benefits may include:
• Increased aqueous dissolution rates for poorly soluble substances;
• Improved bioavailability, with increased rates of absorption of
orally administered drugs;
• Lower oral dosage possibilities with enhanced drug absorption;
• Expanded formulation options in the preparation of stable and
predictable pharmaceutical suspensions and colloidal dispersions
for all routes of administration, including oral, , respiratory,
ophthalmic, and nasal. An area of technology with great potential
is nanotechnology.
 A prescription is usually written on preprinted forms
containing the traditional symbol (meaning ‘‘recipe,’’
‘‘take thou,’’ or ‘‘you take’’), name, address, telephone
number, and other pertinent information regarding the
physician or other prescriber.

In addition, blank spaces are used by the prescriber to

provide :-
1) Information about the patient.
2) The medication desired.
3) The directions for use.
The information generally found on a completed
prescription.
 e-prescribing/e-prescriptions
The use of electronic means for the generation and transmission of
prescriptions is accepted throughout the United States.
In the inpatient or outpatient setting, a medication order, for a patient is
entered into an automated data entry system as a personal computer (PC) or a
handheld device loaded with e-prescribing software and sent to a pharmacy as
an e-prescription. When received, a pharmacist immediately reduces the order
to a hard copy and/or stores it as a computer file.

Among the advantages cited fore-prescriptions over traditional paper

prescriptions are:
1) Reduced errors due to prescription legibility;
2) Concurrent software screens for drug interactions;
3) Reduced incidence of altered or forged prescriptions;
4) Efficiency for both prescriber and pharmacist;
5) Convenience to the patient, whose prescription would likely be ready for
pick-up upon arrival at the pharmacy
Certainly, let's compare a typical prescription and a typical hospital medication
order sheet:
1. **Format:**
- *Typical Prescription:* Generally written on a small, standardized form or pad with sections for
patient information, medication details, and prescriber information.
- *Hospital Order Sheet:* Often a more comprehensive document, integrated into the patient's
medical chart, containing various sections for medication orders, dosage adjustments, and
administration details.
2. **Setting:**
- *Typical Prescription:* Primarily used in outpatient settings, such as community pharmacies and
physician offices.
- *Hospital Order Sheet:* Used in an inpatient setting within a hospital or healthcare facility.
3. **Scope:**
-*Typical Prescription:* Typically includes information for a limited duration, often for a single course
of treatment.
- *Hospital Order Sheet:* Can cover a more extended period, encompassing the entire hospital stay,
with provisions for adjustments and changes.
4. **Prescriber's Role:**
- *Typical Prescription:* Written by an individual prescriber (physician, nurse practitioner, dentist,
etc.) for a specific patient and condition.
- *Hospital Order Sheet:* Can be initiated by various healthcare professionals, including physicians,
nurses, and other authorized staff, often requiring collaboration for comprehensive patient care.
5. **Patient Information:**
- *Typical Prescription:* Contains essential patient details such as name, date of birth, and sometimes
address.
- *Hospital Order Sheet:* Typically integrated into the patient's overall medical record, including a broader
range of information beyond what is seen on a standalone prescription.
6. **Medication Details:**
- *Typical Prescription:* Lists medication name, strength, dosage form, and instructions for use.
- *Hospital Order Sheet:* Includes more extensive medication details, potential interactions, and may
allow for adjustments based on the patient's response.
7. **Authorization:**
- *Typical Prescription:* Requires the prescriber's signature to be legally valid.
- *Hospital Order Sheet:* Often requires electronic or handwritten authentication by the prescriber or
another authorized healthcare professional.
8. **Frequency of Use:**
- *Typical Prescription:* Generated for specific episodes of care or conditions.
- *Hospital Order Sheet:* Continuously updated and used throughout the patient's hospital stay, reflecting
ongoing orders and adjustments.
9. **Documentation:**
- *Typical Prescription:* Generally serves as a standalone document.
- *Hospital Order Sheet:* Part of the comprehensive patient record, integrated with other medical
documentation.
10. **Flexibility:**
- *Typical Prescription:* Typically less flexible for adjustments once dispensed.
– *Hospital Order Sheet:* Allows for real-time adjustments based on the patient's condition, responses to
treatment, and ongoing assessments. It's essential to note that practices may vary, and electronic health
records have introduced digital versions of both prescriptions and hospital order sheets, enhancing
efficiency and accuracy in healthcare settings.
H.W:
Reference:
Pharmaceutical Calculations By Stoklosa