Pharmaceutical Calculations important things (Conversions, Sig-figs, etc)

COMMON CONVERSIONS TO KNOW

1 gallon

3,785 mL

1 quart

946 mL

1 pint

478 mL

1 fl oz

29.52 mL

1 tsp

5 mL

1 tbsp

15 mL

1 grain

0.065 g

2.2 lb

1 kg

1 lb (avoir)

454 g

1 oz (avoir)

28.35 g

1 kg

1000 g

1 g

1000 mg

1 g

1,000,000 mcg

1 mg

1000 mcg

1 L

1000 mL

1 dL

100 mL

Fluid dram symbol (looks like a 3)

5 mL if written on prescription

SIG-FIGS WE HAVE TO KNOW

a

latin: Ante

meaning: Before

aa

latin: Ana

meaning: Of each

a.c.

latin: Ante cibos or cibum

meaning: Before meals

ad

latin: Ad

meaning: Up to

a.d.

latin: Auris dexter

meaning: Right ear

a.m.

latin: Ante meridiem

meaning: Morning

a.s.

latin: Auris sinister

meaning: Left ear

a.u.

latin: Auris uterque

meaning: Both ears

b.i.d.

latin: Bis in die

meaning: Twice a day, typically morning and evening

b.i.w.

meaning: twice a week

c

latin: Cum

meaning: With

cc

latin: Cum cibos

meaning: With food or meals

d

latin: Die

meaning: Day

d/c

meaning: Discontinue

disp

latin: Dispensatur

meaning: Dispense

f or fl

latin: Fluidus

meaning: Fluid, liquid

f 3 or fl 3

meaning: Fluid dram

f with weird 3

meaning: Fluid ounce

f 3 ss or fl 3 ss

meaning: One half fluid once

gal

meaning: Gallon

g

meaning: Gram

gr

meaning: Grain

gtt

latin: Gutta

meaning: Drop

h or hr

latin: Hora

meaning: Hour

h.s.

latin: Hora somni

meaning: At bedtime

I.U.

meaning: International unit

IV or I.V.

meaning: Intravenous, inject or infuse into vein

MDI

meaning: Metered dose inhaler

mEq

meaning: Milliequivalent

mg/kg

meaning: Milligrams of drug per kilogram of body weight

min

latin: Minutum

meaning: Minute, small

No

latin: Numero

meaning: Number

non rep or NR

latin: Non repetatur

meaning: Do not repeat, also no refills

NPO

latin: Non per os

meaning: Nothing by mouth

o.d.

latin: Oculus dexter

meaning: Right eye

o.s.

latin: Oculus sinister

meaning: Left eye

o.u.

latin: Oculus uterque

meaning: Both eyes

p.c.

latin: Post cibos

meaning: After meal

p.m.

latin: Post meridiem

meaning: Afternoon, evening

p.o. or po

latin: Per os

meaning: By mouth (orally)

prn

latin: Pro re nata

meaning: As needed

pt

meaning: Pint

q

latin: Quaque

meaning: Every

qd

latin: Quaque die

meaning: Every day

q.i.d.

latin: Quarter in die

meaning: Four times a day

q.o.d.

meaning: Every other day

q.s.

latin: Quantum sufficiat

meaning: A sufficient quantity

q.s. ad

latin: Quantum sufficiat ad

meaning: A sufficient quantity to make

qt

meaning: Quart

s.i.d.

latin: Semel in die

meaning: Once a day (vet use only)

Sig

latin: Signa

meaning: Write directions on label

SL or sl

meaning: Sublingual, place under the tongue and allow to dissolve

stat

latin: Statim

meaning: Immediately, at once

t.i.d.

latin: Ter in die

meaning: Three times a day

t.i.w.

meaning: Three times a week

ut dict or u.d.

latin: Ut dictum

meaning: As directed

amp

meaning: Ampul or ampule

cap

meaning: Capsule

crm or cr

meaning: Cream

elix

meaning: Elixir

emul

meaning: Emulsion

NS

meaning: Normal saline (0.9% NaCl)

pulv

latin: Pulvis

meaning: Powder

sol

latin: Solutio

meaning: Solution

supp, sup, suppos

latin: Suppositorium

meaning: Suppository

susp

meaning: suspension

syr

latin: Syrupus

meaning: Syrup

tab

latin: Tabletta

meaning: Tablet

tinc, tinct

meaning: Tincture

troche

latin: Trochiscus

meaning: Lozenge

ung, oint

latin: Unguentum

meaning: Ointment

OTHER RANDOM PHARMACY STUFF

Federal law prohibits dispensing without a prescription

True

Federal law prohibits the transfer of this drug to any person other than the patient for whom it was prescribed

True

No prescription for any Schedule II substance may be refilled

True

Schedule III and Schedule IV controlls

The prescription shall not be filled or refilled more than 6 months after the date of the prescription or be refilled more than 5 times unless renewed by practitioner!

5 Rights for Safe Medication Ordering

1. Right patient

2. Right drug

3. Right dose

4. Right time

5. Right route