Abbreviations

Abbreviations rule the medical world. It is important to know the recognized

abbreviations in clinical setting so you will not be lost when preparing
medications for your patient. Here are the most commonly used abbreviations
when preparing drugs:

cc- cubic centimeter

DD- Desired Dose

IM- Intramuscular

IO- Intraosseous

SL – Sublingual

IV- Intravenous

IVP- Intravenous Push

Kg- Kilogram

gm- gram

mg- milligram

mcg- microgram

mEq- milliequivalent
L- Liter

mL- milliliter

µg- microgram

gtt – drop

µgtt – micro drop

tbsp – tablespoon

tsp – teaspoon

Conversions

Before mastering drug dosage formula, you should first learn how to convert
the commonly used units of measurements in drug preparation. It is essential
so you will not get lost between drug calculations as physicians commonly order
a medication available in a different preparation.

The most common conversion factors you will use for drug dosage calculations
are the following:

Solid Conversions
gr 1 = 60 mg

gr 15 = 1 g

2.54 cm = 1 in

2.2 lb = 1 kg

Liquid Conversions

30 mL = 1 oz

1 tsp = 5 mL

1 standard measuring cup = 240 mL

Mass:

mcg ← mg ← g ← kg    ( x by 1,000 )

mcg → mg → g → kg    ( ÷ by 1,000 )

lb ← kg    ( x by 2.2 )

lb → kg    ( ÷ by 2.2 )

 
Volume:

mcL ← mL ← L ← kL    ( x by 1,000 )

mcL → mL → L → kL    ( ÷ by 1,000 )

Time:

min ← hr    ( x by 60 )

min → hr    ( ÷ by 60 )

Example:

 Convert 0.008 kg to mg

mcg ← mg ← g ← kg    ( x by 1,000 )

0.008 L x 1,000 = 8 mg

8 mg x 1,000 = 8,000 mg

 Convert 1,000 mcL to mL

mcL → mL → L → kL    ( ÷ by 1,000 )

1,000 L ÷ 1,000 = 1 mL
 

 Convert 480 minutes to hour

min → hr    ( ÷ by 60 )

480 ÷ 60 = 8 hr

Drug Calculation Formulas

Below are the four most important calculation formulas that you should know in
preparing medications and drips.

Calculating Tablet Dosages

In calculating tablet dosages, the following formula is useful:

DESIRED DOSAGE ÷ STOCK STRENGTH =

NUMBER OF TABLETS
 
The desired dosage is the ordered dosage of the physician while the stock
strength is the amount of drug present in each tablet. Stock strength is also
known as stock dose.

Example:

 The physician orders 1,500 mg of calcium carbonate for the patient. The
drug is available in 250 mg tablets.  How many tablets should be given to
the patient?

Desired dosage ÷ stock strength = number of tablets

1,500 mg ÷ 250 mg = 6 tablets

 The patient is ordered to have 2 g of potassium chloride. The drug is

available in 500 mg tablets. How many tablets should be given?

Convert 2 g to mg = 2 x 1,000 = 2,000 mg

Desired dosage ÷ stock strength = number of tablets

2,000 mg ÷ 500 mg = 4 tablets

Calculating Mixtures and Solutions

The following formula is useful in calculating mixtures and solutions:

 

DESIRED DOSAGE ÷ STOCK STRENGTH X

STOCK VOLUME = AMOUNT OF SOLUTION
TO BE GIVEN
 

The desired dosage is the ordered dosage of the physician. The stock strength is
the amount of drug present in the preparation while the stock volume is the
amount of the solution where the drug is diluted.

Example:

 The physician orders 375 mg of cefuroxime for the patient. The drug is
available in 750 mg vial. You plan to dilute it in 10 mL of sterile water.
How much should you give to your patient?

[Desired dosage ÷ stock strength] x stock volume = amount of solution to be

given

[375 mg ÷ 750 mg] x 10 mL = amount of solution to be given

0.5 mg x 10 mL = 5 mL

 A pediatric patient recovering from accidental fall is about to be given with

130 mg paracetamol syrup. The drug is available in 250 mg per 5 mL
preparation. How much should you give to your patient?
[Desired dosage ÷ stock strength] x stock volume = amount of solution to be
given

[130 mg ÷ 250 mg] x 5 mL = amount of solution to be given

0.52 x 5 mL = 2.6 mL

Calculate IV Rate – mL per hour and minute

It is easy to calculate the running rate of IV fluids in terms of mL per hour or

mL per minute:

TOTAL IV VOLUME ÷ TIME (HOUR OR

MINUTE) = ML PER HOUR OR MINUTE
 

The total IV volume is the amount of fluid to be infused while the time is the
number of running hours or minutes.

Example:

 Start venoclysis with D5 0.9 NaCl 1 L to be infused for 16 hours. How

many mL of the IV fluid should you infuse per hour?

Total IV volume ÷ time (hour or minute) = mL per hour

1 L ÷ 16 hours = mL per hour

[1 L x 1,000] ÷ 16 hours = mL per hour

1,000 mL ÷ 16 hours = 62.5 mL per hour

 You are going to start IV infusion with Plain Lactated Ringer’s Solution 1 L.
By regulating it for 11 hours, how much fluid are you going to infuse per
minute?

Total IV volume ÷ time (hour or minute) = mL per minute

1 L ÷ 11 hours = mL per minute

[1 L x 1,000] ÷ [11 hours x 60] = mL per minute

1,000 mL÷ [11 hours x 60] = mL per minute

1,000 mL ÷ 660 = 1.5 mL per minute

Calculate IV Rate – drops per minute

Calculating for drops per minute is simple with the following formula:

 
 [TOTAL IV VOLUME ÷ TIME (MINUTE)] X
DROP FACTOR = DROPS PER MINUTE
 

The total IV volume is the amount of IV fluid to be infused while time is the
duration of how long the IV fluid should be infused in terms of minutes.

The drop factor is the “drops per milliliter” delivered to the patient and it
depends on the macrodrip used for the infusion. The common drop factors used
in different hospitals are 10, 15 and 20.

Example:

 The physician orders to start venoclysis with D5 0.3 NaCl 1 L solution. The
IV fluid will be infused for 14 hours and the drop factor of the macrodrip
used is 20. It should be regulated to how many drops per minute?

[Total IV volume ÷ time (minute)] x drop factor = drops per minute

[1 L ÷ 14 hours] x 20 = drops per minute

[{1 L x 1,000} ÷ {14 hours x 60}] x 20 = drops per minute

[1,000 mL ÷ 840 minutes] x 20 = drops per minute

1.19 x 20 = 23 to 24 drops per minute

 
  You are going to regulate D5 0.9 NaCl 500 mL solution for 7 hours. The
macrodrip used has 15 drop factor. You should regulate the IV fluid for
how many drops per minute?

[Total IV volume ÷ time (minute) ] x drop factor = drops per minute

[500 mL ÷ 7 hours] x 15 = drops per minute

[500 mL ÷ {7 hours x 60}] x 15 = drops per minute

[500 ÷ 420] x 15 = drops per minute

1.19 x 15 = 17 to 18 drops per minute

Calculate IV Rate – Remaining Time of Infusion

Calculating for the remaining time of infusion for a certain IV fluid is possible
with the following formula:

[VOLUME REMAINING (IN ML) ÷ DROPS PER

MINUTE] X DROP FACTOR = MINUTES
REMAINING
 

The volume remaining is the amount of IV fluid remaining for the infusion while
the drops per minute is the regulation of the IV infusion. The drop factor can be
determined in the macrodrip used in the hospital.
 

Example:

 You see that your patient has D5 0.9 NaCl IV infusion at 400 mL level. It
is regulated to run for 22 drops per minute using a macrodrip set with
drop factor 20. How many minutes are remaining before you are due to
change the IV fluid?

[Volume remaining (in mL) ÷ drops per minute] x drop factor = minutes
remaining

[400 mL ÷ 22] x 20 = minutes remaining

18.18 x 20 = 363 minutes or 6 hours

 A patient has 350 mL of Plain 0.9 NaCl solution as IV infusion regulated at

20 drops per minute. Drop factor 10 was used for the patient’s macrodrip
set. Considering the IV fluid level of the patient, for how many minutes
will it run?

[Volume remaining (in mL) ÷ drops per minute] x drop factor = minutes
remaining

[350 mL ÷ 20] x 10 = minutes remaining

17.5 x 10 = 175 minutes or 3 hours