DRUG CALCULATION

PRESENTATION

MJ Franchette F.
Taganas, RN
Clinical Instructor
FIRST RULE:

 ALWAYS

CHECK
YOUR
ANSWER !
Second Rule:

 DOES

YOUR
ANSWER
MAKE
S
E
Rules to Remember:

 When writing a whole number as a fraction,

place the whole number over one.
2 tablets = 2 / 1
10 mgs = 10 / 1
100 mgs = 100 / 1
Rules to Remember:
 When moving a decimal, to the right or left of “ZERO”, double check your
answer.

*Whole numbers to left (of zero)

-units
-tens
-hundreds
-thousands
-ten-thousands
*Decimal fractions to the right (of zero)
-tenths
-hundredths
-thousandths
-ten-thousands
Rule to Remember:

 When changing a decimal point to a

percentage, move the decimal point (2)
places to the right.
0.45 = 45%
0.06 = 6%
0.008 = 0.8%
Rule to Remember:

 You multiply a fraction by 100 to obtain the

percent.
1/2 (X) 100 / 1 = 50%
1/8 (X) 100 / 1 = 12 ½ %
Rule to Remember:

 When changing a percent to a fraction, divide the

percent by a denominator of 100 (N/D).
50% = 50 / 100
66 2/3% = 200 / 3 (X) 1 / 100 = 2 / 3
* Reverse the divisor and multiply with percents that are mixed fractions
Rule to Remember:

 When calculating the percent of a whole

number, change the percent to a decimal and
multiply by the whole number.
200% of 35 = 2.00 (X) 35 = 70.0
5% of 25 = 0.05 (X) 25 = 1.25
Rule to Remember:

 Review roman numerals because medications

are sometimes ordered using roman
numerals.
ASA V grains q6h
orally Tylenol X grains q6h
orally
Rule to Remember:

 When rounding off numbers < 5 round down

and =/> 5 round up.
45.88 = 46.0
10.35 = 10.0

REMEMBER: Look at the medication you are giving

because some medication (injections) can be given in
“tenths” (example: 1.2 ml) or “hundredths” (example:
0.23 ml).
Conversions:
 1 liter (L) = 1000 ml (milliters)
 1 gram (g) = 1000 mgs (milligrams)
 1 mg (milligrams) = 1000 mcgs (micrograms)
 1 gram (g) = 15 grain (gr)
 1 grain (gr) = 60 mg (milligrams)
 1 dram (dr) =4 ml (milliters)
 1 ounce (oz) = 30 ml (milliters)
 1 tsp (teaspoon) = 5 ml (milliters)
 1 tbs (tablespoon) = 15 ml (milliters)
 1 kg (kilogram) = 2.2 lbs (pounds)
 1 inch = 2.54 cm (centimeters)
 16 ounces (ozs) = 1 lb (pound)
 1 cup = 8 ounces (ozs)
 1 ml (milliter) = 15 minims
 1 tsp (teaspoon) = 5 ml (milliters)
 1 tbs (tablespoon) = 15 ml (milliters)
 1 drop (gtt) = 15 minims
Metric System

It is a decimal system based on the power of 10.

Basic units of measure are gram ( g, gm, G, Gm)
for weight; liter (l, L) for volume; and meter (m,
M) for linear measurement or length.
Kilo is the prefix used for larger units and mili,
centi, micro, and nano are the prefixes for smaller
units.
Conversion with Metric System

The metric units most frequently used in drug

notation are the following:
 1 g = 1000 mg
 1 L = 1000 ml
 1 mg = 1000 ug (mcg)
When converting larger units to smaller units,
move the decimal point one space to the right for
each degree of magnitude change. Note: this does
not apply to micro and nano units.
Ex.
Change 1 gram to milligrams.
Grams are 3 degrees of magnitude greater than milligrams. Move the
decimal point 3 spaces to the right.
1 g = 1.000 mg or 1 g = 1000 mg
When converting smaller units to larger units,
move the decimal point one space to the left for
each degree of magnitude of change.
Ex. change 1000 milligrams to grams
 Milligrams are three degrees of magnitude smaller than grams. Move
the decimal point three spaces to the left.
 1000 mg = 1 000. g or 1000 mg = 1 g
Changing Milligrams to Micrograms

To multiply by 1000, move the decimal point three

places to the right.
Ex.
0.1 mg = ____ mcg
0.100 = 100

0.25 mg = ____ mcg

0.25 mg = 250
Changing Micrograms to Milligrams

To divide by 1000, move the decimal point three

places to the left.
Ex.
300 mcg = ______ mg
300. = 0.3

50 mcg = ______ mg
050. = .05
REMEMBER: When changing larger units to
smaller units, move the decimal point to the
right, and when changing smaller units to
larger units, move the decimal point to the
left.
Apothecary System

• The apothecary system uses the minim as the basic unit of

liquid measure and the grain as the basic unit of solid
measure
• This system is much harder to use than the metric system
and is rarely seen in most clinical settings. Occasionally, a
prescriber will write an order in this system, and the dose
will have to be converted to an available form.
• An interesting feature of this system is that it uses Roman
numerals placed after the unit of measure to denote amount.
For example, 15 grains would be written “gr xv.”
 Household System

• The household system is the measuring system that is

found in recipe books. This system uses the teaspoon
as the basic unit of fluid measure and the pound as the
basic unit of solid measure
• Household measurement is not as accurate as the
metric system because of the lack of standardization
of spoons, cups, and glasses.
Household Conversion

When converting larger units to smaller units,

multiply the requested number by the basic
equivalent value.
Ex: Change 2 glasses of water to ounces.
The equivalent value is 1 medium-size glass = 8 oz.
2 glassess x 8 oz. = 16 oz.
 REMEMBER: To change larger units to smaller units, multiply the
requested number of units by the basic equivalent value. To change
smaller units larger units, divide the requested number of units by
the basic equivalent value.
Avoirdupois System

• The avoirdupois system is another older system that

was very popular when pharmacists routinely had to
compound medications.
• This system uses ounces and grains, but they
measure differently than those of the apothecary and
household systems.
• The avoirdupois system is seldom used by
prescribers but may be used for bulk medications
that come directly from the manufacturer.
Client Rights:

 Right client
 Right drug
 Right dose
 Right time
 Right route
 Right documentation
 Right to refuse treatment
Drug Names:

 Generic Names are official names used by the

drug companies (Acetaminophen).

 Trade or Brand Names are names assigned to a

product by its manufacturer (Tylenol).
Recommended Volume for
Administration Per Sites:

 Intradermal = 0.1 ml (example PPD, allergy

testing)
 Subcutaneous injection = 0.5-1.0 ml per site
 Intramuscular injection = 3.0 ml per site (1
ml in the deltoid)
 IV injection (IV push) = 1-60 ml
Calculation Method: use the
calculation method easiest for you

TERMS:
• Route- How the medication is entering the body.
PO? IV? Topically?
• Medication- The actual compound that is
completing the desired effect
• Dose- How much of this medication is being
administered?
• Vehicle- The way/size the medication is
available
Unit Cancellation Method
How to calculate IV drip rates?

• Used for gravity IV Infusion

• Lets you know how many drips per minute you

need to see in the chamber in order to have the
IV running at the correct rate
• Major Unit: gtt/min
What is a drop factor

• Used to calculate Drip Rate

• A drop factor is the amount of drops of fluid
needed to get 1 ml of fluid
• All IV Tubings diameter is different therefore
the drop factor are also different
Flow Rate

• The rate at which the IV Fluid is being infused

to a patient
• Important to calculate because different
medication or IV fluids have different required
• Unit for flow rate is ml/hr
Drip Rate

• Drip Rates — is when the infusion volume

is calculated into drops per minute.
(gtt/min)