Drug Calculations
Drug Calculations
Drug Calculations
A. Metric System
B. Apothecary System
C. Household System
D. Avoirdupois System
Liquid measures:
1 L = 1000 mL about 1 quart
240 mL 8 f oz (f oz viii) 1c
30 mL 1 f oz ( f oz i) 2 tbsp
15 – 16 mL 4 f dr (f dr iv) 1 tbsp = 3 tsp
8 mL 2 f dr ( f dr ii) 2 tsp
4 – 5 mL 1 f dr (f dr ii) 1 tsp = 60 gtt
1 mL 15 -16 min
0.0 6 mL 1 min ( min i)
I. Oral Drugs
A. Basic formula:
Desired dose ( D) X V = Amount to be given (A)
On- hand dose (H)
D x V = A 100 mg x 5 mL = 2 mL
H 250 mg
250 mg : 5 mL = 100 mg : x
250 x = 500
x = 2 mL
C. Fractional Equation (FE)
H= D
V x
250 mg = 100 mg
5 mL x
2. Parenteral Drugs
3. Intravenous fluids:
1. Amount of solution = mL
Hours to administer
2. mL per hour X drop factor ( gtt/ mL) = drops/ minute (gtt/ min)
60 minutes
6 You want to administer 0.8 grams of a 10% solution. How many mL should the client
receive?
Practice Problems:
1. Ordered:Morphine 10 mg
Available Morphine 16 mg/mL