Pharmaceutical Calculations Flashcards
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Read the first 5 Pharmaceutical Calculations flashcards as text
The doctor writes an order for a liquid oral medication. The order says to administer 15 mg by mouth every 4 hours as needed for sore throat. Pharmacy dispenses you with 30 mg/3ml. How many ml will you administer per dose?
Answer: 1.5 mL/dose
To determine the volume to administer, you can use a simple ratio or dimensional analysis. The order is for 15 mg, and the available concentration is 30 mg in 3 mL. Setting up the proportion (15 mg / x mL) = (30 mg / 3 mL) and solving for x gives (15 mg * 3 mL) / 30 mg = 1.5 mL. Thus, 1.5 mL should be administered per dose.
The doctor writes an order a liquid oral medication. The order says to administer 20 grams by mouth BID. Pharmacy dispenses you with 10 gram/15 ml. How many ml will you administer per dose?
Answer: 30 mL/dose
The doctor ordered 20 grams, and the medication is supplied at a concentration of 10 grams per 15 mL. To calculate the volume needed, divide the desired dose (20 grams) by the concentration (10 grams/15 mL). This results in (20 grams / 10 grams) * 15 mL = 2 * 15 mL, which equals 30 mL per dose.
The doctor writes an order for a medication. The order says to administer 12.5 mg PO BID. Pharmacy dispenses you with 6.25 mg tablets. How many tablets do you administer with this dose?
Answer: 2 tablets/dose
The order specifies 12.5 mg, and the available tablets are 6.25 mg each. To find out how many tablets are needed, divide the ordered dose by the strength per tablet. Performing the calculation 12.5 mg / 6.25 mg/tablet yields 2 tablets. Therefore, 2 tablets should be administered per dose.
The doctor writes an order for a medication. The order says to administer 0.1 gram by mouth daily. Pharmacy dispenses you with 100 mg per tablet. How many tablets will you administer per dose?
Answer: 1 tablet
First, convert the ordered dose from grams to milligrams, knowing that 1 gram equals 1,000 milligrams. So, 0.1 gram is equivalent to 100 mg. Since the pharmacy dispenses tablets that are 100 mg each, only 1 tablet is needed to administer the ordered 100 mg dose.
The doctor orders an IV bolus. The order says to administer IV now 12.5 mg. You are supplied with a via that is labeled 50mg/ml. How many ml will you draw up and administer per dose?
Answer: 0.25 mL/dose
To calculate the volume to draw up, divide the desired dose by the concentration of the medication. The order is for 12.5 mg, and the vial contains 50 mg per mL. Therefore, 12.5 mg divided by 50 mg/mL equals 0.25 mL. This is the precise volume to administer per dose.