DRUG COMPUTATIONS

SYSTEM OF MEDICATION MEASUREMENT, ROUTES OF

MEDICATIONS, AND TYPES OF IV FLUIDS
 Apothecary Measurement
Systems of
Medication Metric Measurement

Measurement Household Measurement

 APOTHECARY MEASUREMENT
• This system was used in the past but is no
longer used for medication measurements.
The apothecary system originated as a
system for dispensing medications using
weights and measures.
• In using this conversion system, grains
convert to milligrams, minims (m) and
drams (dr) convert to milliliter (mL), and
ounces (oz) convert to milliliters.
 METRIC MEASUREMENT
• The metric system is a decimal
system most used in hospitals and clinics.
This system is easy to convert using simple
multiplication and division. Most consider
this system easier because the measures
differ from each other using powers of ten
(10).
 METRIC MEASUREMENT
• The metric system measures length,
volume, and weight. The
measurement for length is meters,
volume is liters, and weight is grams.
Meters, liters, and grams are the
basic units of measure. All have
larger and smaller units of measure.
This system uses prefixes along with
the basic units of measure to identify
the larger and smaller units.
 HOUSEHOLD MEASUREMENT
• This system is not widely used for medications administration in
healthcare facilities because it is not as accurate as the metric
system. You will find this system more often used in the home
care setting

• You may still see these measures in the clinical setting

occasionally. Some disposable medication cups still have
measurements for the household, metrics, and the apothecary
system written on them.
 • Oral
• Parenteral Administration
 Subcutaneous
 Intramuscular
 Intravenous
 Intrathecal
 Sublingual and Buccal Routes

MEDICATION • Rectal Route

• Vaginal Route
• Ocular Route

ROUTES • Otic Route

• Nasal Route
• Inhalation route
• Nebulization Route
• Cutaneous Route
• Transdermal Route
 Nutrient Solutions
• D5W and D5NSS

Electrolyte Solution
• 0.9 NaCl, Ringer’s Solution, and
IV FLUIDS LRS.

Alkalising Solutions
(INTRAVENOUS • LRS.

FLUIDS)
Acidifying Solutions
• 0.9 NaCl.

Volume Expanders
• Dextran, Human Albumin, and
Plasma
 INTRAVENOUS FLUIDS
IV solutions can also be classified based on their
purpose:
• Nutrient solutions. D5W and D5NSS.
 INTRAVENOUS FLUIDS
IV solutions can also be classified based on their
purpose:
• Electrolyte solutions. 0.9 NaCl, LRS.

• Alkalinising solutions. Examples: LRS.

 INTRAVENOUS FLUIDS
IV solutions can also be classified based on their
purpose:
• Acidifying solutions. D51/2NS, 0.9 NaCl.

• Volume expanders.
COMPUTATION OF DOSAGES
 ORALOral
MEDICATIONS: SOLIDS
Medications: Solids
• D/S = Q

Desired dose = Quantity dose

Stock dose

Example: The physician orders 500 micrograms of Digoxin, the drug is available in
250 micrograms. How many tablets will you give?
D/S=Q C 500 ug/250 ug = 2tablets
 ORAL PARENTERAL MEDICATIONS :LIQUIDS

• D/S x dilution or vehicle = Q

Desired dose
x dilution = Quantity of drug
Stock dose

Example: The physician ordered Ampicillin (Ampicin) 200mg to a patient with Upper
Respiratory Infection. Ampicin is available at 500mg. the nurse is advised to dilute it
with 3ml distilled water. Compute for the amount to be given.
D/S x dilution = Q
= 200mg/500mg x 3ml
= 0.4 ml x 3 = 1.2 ml
 IV FLUID RATE

gtts/min = Volume in ml or cc x gtt factor

no. of hours x 60 mins

Example: The physician orders 600ml of D5LR to a patient to be consumed

for 2hrs in a standard macrodrip system. Compute for drops/min.
gtts/min Volume in cc x drop factor
= no. of hours x 60min
= 600 x 15
2 x 60
= 75 gtts/min