CALCULATION OF ORAL MEDICATIONS: Order: Carvedilol 6.

25 mg po bid
SOLIDS AND LIQUIDS Supply: Read the label
INFORMATION NEEDED TO START DOSAGE
CALCULATIONS D = Carvedilol 6.25 mg po
1. The doctor’s/healthcare provider’s order H = 12.5 mg
2. The quantity/strength of drug on hand S = 1 tablet
3. The solid/liquid form of the supply drug
Ex. 1. Formula Method
Form the drug arrives in 𝐷
×𝑆 =𝑥
X/x 𝐻
- unknown amount/answer of drug to administer 6.25 𝑚𝑔
× 1 𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒𝑡 = 𝑥
D 12.5 𝑚𝑔
- desired dose/order 1
𝑥 = 𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒𝑡
H 2
2. Proportion Expressed as Two Fractions
- on hand/have
𝑆 𝑥
S =
𝐻 𝐷
- supply 1 𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒𝑡 𝑥
RULES OF ORAL SOLIDS =
12.5 𝑚𝑔 6.25 𝑚𝑔
1. Formula Method 6.25 𝑚𝑔 × 1 = 12.5 × 𝑥
𝐷 6.25 𝑚𝑔
×𝑆 =𝑥 =𝑥
𝐻 12.5 𝑚𝑔
2. Proportions Expressed as Two Fractions 1
- set up proportions so that unlike units are across 𝑥 = 𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒𝑡
2
from each other 3. Proportion Expressed as Two Ratios
- first fraction is known equivalent S:H::x:D
- second fraction is the unknown, the 1 tablet : 12.5 mg : : x : 6.25 mg
desired/order dose 1 × 6.25 𝑚𝑔 = 12.5 × 𝑥
Ex. 6.25 𝑚𝑔
𝑆 𝑥 =𝑥
= 12.5 𝑚𝑔
𝐻 𝐷 1
First fraction: 𝑥 = 𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒𝑡
2
1 𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒𝑡
one tablet is equal to 50 mg =
50 𝑚𝑔
Second fraction:
𝑥 𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒𝑡𝑠
x tablets is equal to 100 mg =
100 𝑚𝑔
1 𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒𝑡 𝑥 𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒𝑡𝑠
=
50 𝑚𝑔 100 𝑚𝑔
1 × 100 = 𝑥 × 50 Order: Lanoxin (Digoxin) 0.125 mg po every day
1 × 100 50𝑥 Supply: Read the label
=
50 50
𝑥 = 2 𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒𝑡𝑠 D = Lanoxin (Digoxin) 0.125 mg po
3. Proportions Expressed as Two Ratios H = 0.25 mg
- set up ratio by using colons S = 1 tablet
- first ratio is the unknown equivalent
- second ratio is the desired/ordered dose 1. Formula Method
Ex. 0.125 𝑚𝑔
× 1 𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒𝑡 = 𝑥
S:H::x:D 0.25 𝑚𝑔
1 tablet : 50 mg : : x : 100 mg 0.125 𝑚𝑔
× 1 𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒𝑡 = 𝑥
1 × 100 = 𝑥 × 50 0.250 𝑚𝑔
1 × 100 50𝑥 1
= 𝑥 = 𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒𝑡
50 50 2
𝑥 = 2 𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒𝑡𝑠 2. Proportion Expressed as Two Fractions
Double Colons (: :) 1 𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒𝑡 𝑥
=
- separate the two ratios 0.250 𝑚𝑔 0.125 𝑚𝑔
Ex. 1 𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒𝑡 × 0.125 𝑚𝑔 = 𝑥 × 0.250 𝑚𝑔
0.125 𝑚𝑔
=𝑥
0.250 𝑚𝑔
1
𝑥 = 𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒𝑡
2
3. Proportion Expressed as Two Ratios
1 tablet : 0.250 mg : : x : 0.125 mg
 1 𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒𝑡 × 0.125 𝑚𝑔 = 𝑥 × 0.250 𝑚𝑔
0.125 𝑚𝑔
=𝑥
0.250 𝑚𝑔
1
𝑥 = 𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒𝑡
2

Order: Amoxicillin 1 g po q6h

Supply: 1 tablet = 500 mg

1 g = 1 000 mg

D = Amoxicillin 1 000 mg po
H = 500 mg
S = 1 tablet

1. Formula Method
1 000 𝑚𝑔
× 1 𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒𝑡 = 𝑥
500 𝑚𝑔
1 000 𝑚𝑔
× 1 𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒𝑡 = 𝑥
500 𝑚𝑔
1
𝑥 = 𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒𝑡
2
2. Proportion Expressed as Two Fractions
1 𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒𝑡 𝑥
=
500 𝑚𝑔 1 000 𝑚𝑔
1 𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒𝑡 × 1 000 𝑚𝑔 = 𝑥 × 500 𝑚𝑔
1 000 𝑚𝑔
=𝑥
500 𝑚𝑔
1
𝑥 = 𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒𝑡
2
3. Proportion Expressed as Two Ratios
1 tablet : 500 mg : : x : 1 000 mg
1 𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒𝑡 × 1 000 𝑚𝑔 = 𝑥 × 500 𝑚𝑔
1 000 𝑚𝑔
=𝑥
500 𝑚𝑔
1
𝑥 = 𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒𝑡
2
Clearing Decimals when Using the Formula Method
- when the numerator and denominator in D/H are
decimals, add zeros to make the number of decimal
point the same then drop the decimal points
Ex.
0.5 𝑚𝑔 0.50 𝑚𝑔
=
0.25 𝑚𝑔 0.25 𝑚𝑔