In the name of GOD

Calculation Summary for KAPS
This summary has been made mainly based on:
CPR 8 (chapters 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 20, 58, 59)
CPR 8 practice book (calculation chapter)
APEC Q&A calculation
Calculation Tutorials by Monash University
Lang Q&A 10 (biopharmacy questions)
These materials can be downloaded from my google drive:
https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=1J6gWzszUBAr5JY2Dtm2wt
Dr3kV8pbGvP

I tried to keep everything in a simple way without any further

explanation. Therefore, I recommend using this file JUST as a revision
after reading mentioned materials.

For those who want to make a change in this file, a word type of it can
be found in my google drive. Please, firstly make sure to use the latest
version of Microsoft office word to show everything correctly.

If you find something unclear or even wrong, contact me please:

Yasaman Rasouli
https://m.me/Yas92r
FEB. 2021

1 
 
 

Contents
Conversions ..........................................................................................3
Metric units conversion ...................................................................................................................... 3
Dimensional analysis........................................................................................................................... 4
Percentage conversion (strength) ...................................................................................................... 4
Dencity ................................................................................................................................................ 5

Manipulating Pharmaceutical Formulations ........................................5

Expansion‐ Contraction‐ Addition ....................................................................................................... 5
Dilution formula .................................................................................................................................. 6
Allegation ............................................................................................................................................ 6
Suppository ......................................................................................................................................... 7

Measuring.............................................................................................7
Molecular manipulations ......................................................................7
Concentration ..................................................................................................................................... 7
Chemical reactions.............................................................................................................................. 8
Isotonicity ........................................................................................................................................... 8

Buffer solutions ....................................................................................9

Drug stability......................................................................................10
Kinetics .............................................................................................................................................. 10
Once compartment model ............................................................................................................... 11
Multicompartment models............................................................................................................... 14
Nonkinear kinetics ............................................................................................................................ 14
Clearance .......................................................................................................................................... 15
Bioavailability .................................................................................................................................... 15

Posology .............................................................................................16
Dose .................................................................................................................................................. 16
Clearance .......................................................................................................................................... 18
Flow rate ........................................................................................................................................... 18

Others .................................................................................................19

2 
 
 

Conversions

Metric units conversion

Mass (Weight) g: gram

µg
1Kg g mg ng pg
(mcg)

Volume (Capacity) L: liter

mL
1 teaspoon= 5ml
1L (cc
dL µL
(dm3) or
1 tablespoon= 15ml
cm3)
Length m: meter

1m dm cm mm µm nm pm

Amount of substance mol: mole

1mol mmol µmol

Imperial equivalents of metric units

Metric Imperial

1 gram (g) 15.432 grains (gr.)

1 kilogram (kg) 2.2046 pounds (Ib.)

1 millilitre (mL) or cm3 16.894 minims (m.)

1 litre (L) or dm3 35.196 fluidounces (fl.oz.)

2.54 centimetres (cm) 1 inch (in)

30.48 centimetres (cm) 1 foot (ft)

91.44 centimetres (cm) 1 yard (yd)

1.6093 x103 metres (m)1 mile

Metric Equivalents of Imperial Units

Imperial Metric

3 
 
 

1 grain (gr.) 0.0648 gram (g)

1 ounce Avoirdupois (oz)
[equivalent to 437.5 gr.]
1 ounce Apothecary
[equivalent to 480 gr.]
1 pound Avoirdupois (Ib.)
1 ton
1 minim (m.)
1 fluidounce (fl.oz.)
1 pint (pt.) UK
1 pint (pt.) US
28.3495 gram (g)
31.104 grams (g)
453.59 grams (g)
1.0161 x103 kilograms (kg)
0.0592 millilitres (mL) or cm3
28.412 millilitres (mL) or cm3
568.261 millilitres (mL) or cm3
473.176 millilitres (mL) or cm3

1 gallon (gal.) UK 4.546 litres (L) or dm3

1 gallon (gal.) US 3.785 litres (L) or dm3: 3785.41 mL: 128 fl oz US

Temperature
°C: degree centigrade °F: degree farenheit
5 9
°C °F 32 °F °C 32
9 5
°K: degree kelvin
1°K= °C+273 1°K= °F

Dimensional analysis
like units will cancel out and only the desired terms will be left: (a, b and c are data given in
the question and x is final answer. Pay attention to units)

Percentage conversion (strength)

solute
% 100
solute solvent

1% w/w 1g solid in 100g product Weight in weight

1% w/v 1g solid in 100ml product Weight in volume
1% v/v 1ml liquid in 100ml product Volume in volume
1% v/w 1ml solid in 100g product Volume in weight

4 
 
 

% without any mentioned type of percentage: % w/v

Percentage to decimal 1%: 0.01
move decimal point two places to the left
Parts per million (ppm) 1g in 106ml or 1mg in 103ml (1L)
Parts per billion (ppb) 1g in 109ml

Parts (Ratio strength) to percentage

1:X 1g X ml
or ? g/100ml or ?% w/v
? 100ml
1 in X

Dencity
d: density (g/ml)
m or g in 1ml
d
v m: mass (g)
v: volume (ml or cm3)

sp g: specific gravity
d
sp g ds: density substance
d
dw: density water: 1

V: volume of cylinder (cm3)

π: 3.14
2
V= πr h diameter cm
r radius
2
h: height (cm)

Manipulating Pharmaceutical Formulations

Expansion- Contraction- Addition

Remaining drug= initial – dispensed

Total mixture– trituration= diluent
Total weight of powders– total weight of drug= weight of diluent

5 
 
 

1 part~ 1g
1 for original solution
If C2 < C1 2 for new solution
C1 V1= C2 V2 C: strength (concentration or percentage)
V: quantity (volume or weight)

quantity want Up to x or 1+2+3+…

Factor to multiply
quantity have
Then each ingredient quantity Factor

V
Dilution factor 1 in X dilution Vehicle= V2- V1
V
Dilution formula

amount of drug mg quantity have amount mg

quantity required ml quantity want unit dose mg

final amount of drug

drug weight weight removed from mix 1
…
diluted to weight 1 diluted to weight 2
final weight removed

mg of drug want mg or ml of mixture weighed

mg of drug weighed mg or ml pf drug mg or ml diluent made

Allegation

C: strength (concentration or percentage) V: quantity (volume or weight)

Have want Parts Quantity
Ca Cc – Cb Vb
Cc
Cb Cc – Ca Va
if Cc < Ca
if Cc > Ca
wsp=0 water=0 Cb + Ca Vc= Va + Vb
API= 100

6 
 
 

Suppository

The displacement value (DV): weight of drug that occupies the same volume as 1g of either
of fatty base or 1.2g of water-soluble base.

weight of base for N suppositories

drug dose g drug dose g ⋯
mould calibration
DV DV ⋯
density N
Drug dose is for mass of each one suppository.
If DV= 1 then %e= 0
approx exact Approx. base weight by DV formula
%error 100
exact Exact base weight= total weight- drug
weight for total mass of all suppositories

Measuring

Sensitivity: weight causing 1 scale deflection= weight/ scale deflection

sensitivity weight
% error in weighting 100
amount weighed weight
% accuracy+ % error= %100
Maximum % error ≤ ±5% of the amount weighed
sensitivity weight
the minimum weighable mass MWM 100 20 sensitivity
maximum % error
Selecting measuring instrument: smallest apparatus
Measured volume ≥ 20% capacity (or maximum volume) of the instrument
error in reading quantity
% error 100
quantity measured

Molecular manipulations

Concentration

7 
 
 

mass of solute
Mass concentration
L or dm solution
mass g
mole
Mw molecular weight
n
mole fraction X
n
mg
mmol
Mw
moles of solute
molarity
L solution
moles of solute
molality
kg solvent
Mw
1mEq wt mg
valence
no. mEq mmols valence= Eq wt in mg/1000
If valence:1 then number of mEq= mmol
mEq Mw
mg
valence
mEq
mg Mw
ml
ml valence
Eq wt of solute
Normality
L of solution
no. mOsm= mmol × no. particles
Mw
1mOsm wt mg
no. particles
mOsmol wt of substance in g/L
no. particles 1000
L Mw in g
no. mOsm
Osmolarity
L of solution
no. mOsm
Osmolality
kg of solvent

Chemical reactions

A, B, AB= compound a, b, d= mole g= gram MW= molecular weight

aA+ bB → dAB
a × MW A d × MW AB
gA ? g AB

Isotonicity

8 
 
 

FD1% or D value: freezing point depression

% adjusting substance %w/v

0.52 %w/v A FD1%A %w/v B FD1%B ⋯
FD1% adjusting substance for NaCl: 0.52
Another formula:
0.9% NaCl 0.52
0.52- total depression (FD1% A+ FD1% B+…)= X
? X

Ciso = 0.52/ FD1%

SCE or E value: Sodium chloride equivalents (g) ~ 1g substance

0.9 %w/v A SCE A %w/v B SCE B ⋯
% adjusting substance %w/v
SCE adjusting substance for NaCl: 1

g substance SCE substance g NaCl Volume given in the question

X= amount of 0.9% NaCl needed to add for
100 ml
isotonicity

Ciso (substance)= 0.9/ SCE substance

% adjusting substance %w/v %w/v A %w/v A

1 ⋯
Ciso adjusting substance for NaCl: 0.9% Ciso A Ciso A

V total- V isotone= V needed to be isotone= V NaCl 0.9% should be added

Buffer solutions

Handerson- Hasselbalch equation

Weak acid+ salt pH= Pka+ log [salt]/[acid]
Weak base+ salt pH= Pka+ log [base]/[salt]
[ ]: concentration Dissociated (ionized): Undissociated (non-ionized): acid or
(mol/L) salt base
+ + -pH
pH= -log [H ] then [H ]= 10
pH+ pOH= 14
Pka= -log ka

9 
 
 

log a x Then b a
log a x Then 10 a
log 1 0 log b 1

B: buffer capacity
k H C: total buffer concentration (mol/L)
B 2.303 c
k H Ka: dissociation constant
[ ]: concentration (mol/l)
If [salt]= [acid or base] pH= pKa Bmax= 0.576 maximum buffer capacity

Drug stability
Kinetics

Zero order
The rate is independent of concentration: constant
dc/dt= -k0
rate
C: concentration at time t (g/ml or mg/ml or
mol/L)
C= C0 k0 t C0: initial concentration
k0: zero order rate constant (c/t)
t: time (second or minute or hour)
t /
0.5 C t / : half life
k
t %
t % : shelf life (when drug loses %10 of its active
0.1 C
constituent)
k

First order
dc/dt= -k1C The rate is dependent of concentration
C: concentration at time t (g/ml or mg/ml
C= C0 e-k t or mol/L): how much will remain after
time t
C0: initial concentration
ln C= ln C0 –k1 t
k1: first order rate constant (t-1)
log C= log C0 –k1
t: time (second or minute or hour)
t/ 2.303
0.693
t / t / : half life
k

10 
 
 

0.105
t %
k t %: shelf life
0.152 t /

/ x / x
x remain
2 4
/ / /
%100 %50 %25 %12.5 remain
/ / /
%100 %50 %75 %87.5 eliminated
Rate constant X % per hour: fractional loss of 0.X per hour: K= 0.X

ea×b= x then a × b= x
Arrhenius equation
K= A e- (Ea/ R T) K: rate constant (t-1)
log k= log A- Ea/ 2.303 R T A: frequency factor
Ea; activation energy (cal/mol or joul/mol)
log k2
R: molar gas constant= 8.314 J deg-1 mol-1 or 1.987 cal
Ea T T
log k1 deg-1 mol-1
2.3 R T T
T: absolute temperature (kelvin)= °C+273

Once compartment model

Intravenous bolus injection

First order elimination
k or kel= ke +km k: rate constant
el: elimination

e: excretion

m: metabolism
D Vd: volume
V F
C distribution (L)
Db: amount of
unchanged drug in
body (mg)= dose
Cp: plasma drug
concentration
(mg/L)
F: fraction of drug
bioavailable or
%bioavailability

11 
 
 

Single oral dose

First order absorption and elimination
F D k kA: first order
C e
V k k absorption constant
e rate

2.303 log k /k tmax: time for

t
k k maximum or peak
drug concentration
AUC: area under
AUC C dt
the curve (mg/h/L)
F D
V k
AUC
C ,

k

Intravenous infusion
Zero order absorption, first order elimination
R R: infusion rate
C 1 e
V k (mg/h or mg/min)
D = C V DL: loading dose
R F R F D Css: plasma
C
V k Cl V concentration at
steady state or
desired plasma drug
concentration
(mg/L)
F for intravenous
injection= 1
Cl: total body
clearance (L/h)
Time to reach Css = 4-5 t1/2
At Css. Ke= R
R= Css Vd k = Css Cl= Time= t2 - t1
dose/time

Intermittent intravenous infusion

No Css
Cp,n: peak drug concentration

12 
 
 

R: infusion rate (mg/h or mg/min)

k: rate constant
R 1 e 1 e
C , t: time for infusion
Cl 1 e
n: number of infusions
τ: dosage interval

Multiple doses
Css
D0: size of the dose
τ: dosage interval

Dosing
rate= D0 S/ S: portion of salt that is active
τ drug= Mw active portion/ Mw
total molecule

Multiple rapid intravenous bolus injections

D
V C = peak or maximum drug concentration at steady state
C
1 e
C C e C = minimum drug concentration at steady state
FD
C F for intravenous injection= 1
k V τ

Multiple immediate release oral doses

Ka > kel
F D k 1
C = accumulation rate
V k k 1 e
C and C = the same as multiple rapid IV equations
f= fraction of drug remaining in the body after a
f e
dosage interval
R 1 DL: loading dose
D C V D DM= maintenance dose
k 1 e
V C S: portion of salt that is active drug= Mw active
S F portion/ Mw total molecule
If τ= t1/2 then DL= 2 DM
Cl C τ
D Cl C τ
S F

13 
 
 

Multicompartment models

Two-
compartment
model for
intravenous
bolus injection

2k, 2t1/2, 2Vd ,1Cl

For loading dose use first Vd
For maintenance dose or infusion Rate use second Vd
Cp= Ae-at + Be-bt Cp= the plasma drug
concentration at any time
a and b: hybrid first order
constants
A and B: y intercepts

Two- compartment model for oral

If drug is absorbed rapidly and the distribution phase is slower

Nonkinear kinetics

Michaelis menten equation after an intravenous injection

dc
dt vmax; maximum velocity of
V C reaction

K C
Cp: plasma drug
concentraation
km: Michael constant

14 
 
 

dc/dt= -k' Cp If Cp << km = first order

dc/dt= vmax If Cp >> km = zero order

Clearance

For linear (first-order) kinetics:

dDe
rate of drug elimination dt F D
Cl V k Cl Cl
plasma drug concentration C AUC

T: total R: renal H: hepatic

Q: liver blood flow
ClH= Q ER
ER: extraction ratio
C C C : arterial plasma drug concentration entering the liver
ER
C C : venous plasma drug concentration exiting the liver
If ER=0 no drug is removed by liver
If ER=0.9 then %90 of incoming drug is removed as the plasma
ER: 0 to 1 perfuses the liver
If ER=1 all of the drug is removed by liver, 100% extraction, high
first pass effect» Cv= 0
Cl Cl : intrinsic clearance
f Cl
Q f: fraction of free drug in plasma
Q f Cl
Cl t1/2 n: normal

Cl t1/2 Ri: renal impairment
If there is X% renal impairment then ClRi= (100%-X%) × ClR + ClH

Bioavailability

15 
 
 

2 drugs, 1 route of
Relative bioavailability
administration
REF: reference dosage form
AUC oral TEST/ Dose oral TEST
RBA with same rout of
AUC REF/ Dose REF
administration as test
1 drug, 2 routes of
AUC REF =Absolute bioavailability
administration
F: fraction of drug
AUC oral/ Dose oral systematically absorbed (F= 0
F
AUC IV/ Dose IV to 1, for IV=1)
IV: intravenous injection
cumulative amount of test in urine/ Dose oral
F 100
cumulative amount of test in urine after IV/ Dose IV
Changing routes F1 Dose1= F2 Dose2 1: route 1
2: route 2

Posology

Dose
drug dose mg
patient s dose mg patient sweight kg
1kg
Amount of theophylline= amount of aminophylline × 80%
Amount of aminophylline= amount of theophylline+ 20% amount of theophylline
Dubois and Dubois formula
BSA: Body surface area
0.425 0.725
BSA= W ×H ×71.84 W: weight (Kg)
H: Height (cm)
BSA (m2)=
height cm weight kg
3600

Rule Children dose

age years
Young maximum adult dose mg
age 12
age
Dilling maximum adult dose
20
age next birthday
cowling maximum adult dose
24

16 
 
 

weight Kg
clarke maximum adult dose
70
age months
Fried maximum adult dose
150
BSA child
Surface area maximum adult dose
201.8 m

BMI: body mass index (Kg/m2)

Weight
BMI Weight: Kg
Height
Height: m2
Weight Weight: lb
BMI 703
Height Height: in
BMI <18.5 Below normal
18.5 ≤ BMI <25 Normal
25 ≤ BMI <30 Overweight
30 ≤ BMI <35 Class I obesity
35 ≤ BMI <40 Class II obesity
BMI ≥40 Class III obesity

Ideal body weight (IBW)

IBW male= 50Kg+ 0.9Kg× (height (cm)- 152)
IBW male= 50Kg+ 2.3Kg× (height of inches greater than 60)
IBW female= 45.5Kg+ 0.9Kg× (height (cm)- 152)
IBW female= 45.5Kg+ 2.3Kg× (height of inches greater than 60)

Adjusted body weight (ABW)= IBW+ 0.4 × (actual weight - IBW)

Lean body weight (LBW)= 110lb (for female: 100lb)+ (5lb× every inch over 5 feet of
height)
Harris–Benedict equation
Male BMR = (10 × weight in kg) + (6.25 × height in cm) - (5 × age in years) + 5
Female BMR = (10 × weight in kg) + (6.25 × height in cm) - (5 × age in years) - 161
BMR: basal metabolic rate: total daily energy expenditure: number of kilocalories burn
without activity to maintain current weight

DRI (Dietary Reference Intake)

Protein 0.8g per kg or 0.36g per pound
Fat 20% to 35% of total calories
Carbohydrate 45% to 65% of total calories

Amount of energy provided by

17 
 
 

Protein 4 kcal/g
Carbohydrate 4 kcal/g
Ethanol 7 kcal/g
Fat 9 kcal/g

Clearance

Cockroft Gault equation

Cr Cl: creatinine clearance (mL/min)
140 age IBW Age: years
Cr Cl for female: 0.85
815 S Cr IBW: Kg
S Cr: serum creatinine (mmol/L)
140 age IBW
Cr Cl for female: 0.85 S Cr: serum creatinine (mg/dL)
72 S Cr
30 < Cr Cl< 59 Moderately reduced
15 < Cr Cl< 29 Severe insufficiency
Cr Cl< 15 End stage renal disease

Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) (mL/min/1.73m2)= creatinine clearance (mL/min) × body

surface area (m2/1.73)

Flow rate

R: drops per min

V V: volume (ml)
R C
T T: time (min)
C: calibration or drop factor (drops per ml)

Flow rate (mL/h)= volume (ml)/ time (h or min)

R= rate (mL/h or min)
Dose: units or mg/kg or m2/h or min
dose weight or BSA bag volume
R Weight: kg
drug in bag
BSA: m2
Bag Volume: ml
Drug in bag: units or mg

ml amount of drug patient weight time min

Rate drug delivery
min drug concentration

18 
 
 

Others

Ideal gas law

P: pressure volume
V: volume
pv= nRT
R: molar gas constant (0.08205L atm/mol deg)
T: absolute temperature

Colligative properties: raoult's law

PA: partial vapor pressure
PA= P A XA P°A: vapor pressure of the pure component
°

XA: mole fraction of the solute A

Van't Hoff equation

π: osmotic pressure
n: number of moles of solute
πv= n2RT
R: molar gas constant (0.08205L atm/mol deg)
T: absolute temperature

Stockes's law: the rate of settling (seprating or creaming)

S R: sedimentation rate
D: particle diameter
D g d d
S R g: acceleration due to gravity= 10
18μ
d d : density of particles- density of medium
μ: viscosity of medium

Poiseuille law
V: volume of the liquid
P: pressure
π p p r t R: radius of vessel
v
8μL t: time
μ: viscosity
L: vessel lenght

Bear lambert law

ε: molar extinction (M-1 cm-1)
A= ε C L C: concentration (mol/L)
L: path lenght

19 
 
 

Fick law (first) for diffusion

V: velocity
D: diffusion coefficient
DAK C C A: surface area
V
T K: partition coefficient
C C: concentration difference
T: thickness

Noyes- whitney dissolution euation

: rate of drug dissolution

dm DA D: diffusion coefficient
C C A: surface area
dt T
C C : C at saturation- C at time in bulk solution
T: thickness

LD: lethal dose producing 50% death in the population

Therapeutic index= LD50/ ED50 ED50: the effective dose that produces 50% of the Emax
Emax= maximal efficacy

Therapeutic window= MTC (minimum toxic concentration) _ MEC (minimum effective

concentration)

20 
 
 

TD: toxic dose

Margine of safety= TD0.1/ ED99
ED: effective dose

Partition coefficient= solubility [drug] in organic solvent/ solubility [drug] in water

Radiation
I R I: gamma intensity at distance R (retrogens/h)

I R R: distance

Sunscreen
MED with sunscreen SPF: sun protecting factor
SPF
MED without sunscreen MED: Minimal erythema dose

21