math and drug calculations lect 6

8/7/2019 Math and Drug Calculations lect 6

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Lecture 6



Brand and Generic Namesy The brand or trade name is the manufacturers name

for a drug.

y It is usually large type and boldly visible to identify andpromote the product.

y The generic name or established non-propietary nameappears directly under brand name.

y By law the generic name has to be indentified on alldrug labels.



Dosage Strengthy Dosage weight or the amount of drug provided in a

specific unit of measurement.

y Example Lopid tablets is 600 milligrams (the weightand specific measurement) per tablet.

y Some drugs may have two different but equivalentdosage strengths. Penicillin K has a dosage of 250

milligrams or 400,000 units per tablet.y Hence prescribers can order these types of drus using

either measurement



Form

y Identifies the structure and composition of the drug.

y Solid dosage forms for oral use are tablets and capsules

y Some powdered or granular medications notmanufactured in tablet form can be directly combined

with food or liquid, others have to be reconstitutedand measured with a precise liquid volume e.g.

millilitres, drops or ounces.y May be crystalloid or a suspension.

y Injectables may be supplied in solution or as dry powder to be reconstituted.



Supply Dosagey Both dosage strength and form.

y It is read X measured units per some quantity

y For solid-form meds. The dosage is measured X unitsper tablet.

y For liquid medications the supply dosage is the sameas the medications concentration which is X measured

units per milliliter.



Administration Routey Site of the body or method of drug delivery into the patient

y Examples include:y Oral

y Enteral

y Sublingual

y Injection- IM, IV, Subcut

y Otic

y Topicaly Rectal

y Vaginal

y optic



Label Alertsy Manufacturers may print warning labels on the

packaging or the pharmacy may add a special alert.

y Storage alerts may be keep refrigerated at all times,do not refrigerate, protect from light, close captightly before storingor store in a dry place.

y Reconstituted suspensions may me dispensed already

prepared for use with directions for the nurse to shake well before use to remix components.



Lot numbersy Federal law requires all medication packlages to be

identified with a lot or control number.

y If a drug is recalled for reasons such as damage ortampering the lot number quickly identifies theparticular group of medication packages to beremoved from shelves.

yThis number helps in medication recalls for e.g.

vaccines and OTC drugs



Other itemsy EXPIRATION DATE -medication should be used or

discarded or returned to pharmacy by the expiration

date.y Name of manufacturer

y National drug code

y Bar code symbols

y National formulary (nf)y United stated Pharmacopeia (USP)



Combination Drugsy Some medications are a combination of two drugs in

one form

yExamples are Augmentin and percocet

y These drugs are usually prescribed by the number of tablets, capsules, or milliliters rather than the dosagestrength.



Controlled Substancesy Controlled substances, such as narcotics, are carefully

monitored because of the potential for abuse.

yThey are classified into one of five groupings orschedules.

y The schedule number (a Roman numeral) is indicatedon the label.

y With Five being the most controlled and One beingthe least controlled OTCMedications.



Class 2 drug



Medication Labelsy Every medication has a label with essential

information on it. To decrease the risk a medication

error will occur, always ch

eck th

e medication labelthree times:

y Against the medication order or MAR

y Before preparing the medication

y After preparing the medication and beforeadministering it.



Unit or Single dose labelsy Most oral medications given in the hospital setting are

available in single (unit) doses.

yThe total volume is usually omitted on thesecontainers since they only hold a single dose



Supply Dosage Expressed as a Ratio

or Percenty Sometimes the amount of medication contained in a

solution is expressed as a ratio of the number of grams

of th

e drug per total milliliters of solution.y Percentage solutions express the number of grams of

the drug per 100 milliliters of solution.



Supply Dosage Expressed as a Ratio

or PercentExample:y Epinephrine 1:10,000 contains 1 g of the drug per 10,000 mL

solution

y 1 g: 10,000 mL = 1,000 mg: 10,000 mL = 1 mg/10mL

y Other solutions express the amount of medication as apercentage (the number of grams of the drug per 100milliliters of solution).

Example:y Betoptic Opthalmic Solution 0.5% contains 0.5 g of drug

per 100 mLy 0.5g: 100 mL = 500 mg: 100 mL = 5 mg/mL

math and drug calculations lect 6

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