Chapter 6 Oral Medication Labels and Dosage Calculation

Objectives By the end of the class the student will: v identify scored tablets, unscored tablets, and capsules v. Read drug labels to identify trade and generic names v. Locate dosage strengths and calculate average dosage v. Measure oral solutions using a medicine cup. Copyright © 2015 Copyright Cengage©Learning® 2015 Cengage Learning® 2

Average Doses • Most oral dosages consist of half to three tablets or capsules or half to double the m. L volume in liquid medications. Copyright © 2015 Copyright Cengage©Learning® 2015 Cengage Learning® 6 -3

Solid drugs include Scored tablets/Enetric coated Capsules/Controlled release Copyright © 2015 Cengage Learning® 4

Safety Points • Question any prescriptions that require unusual number of tablets or capsules. – More than three • Be mindful of errors in prescribing, transcribing, or calculating. Copyright © 2015 Copyright Cengage©Learning® 2015 Cengage Learning® 6 -5

Solid Oral Drug Preparations • Tablets • Scored tablets – Indented marking to make breaking for partial drug dosages easier and more accurate (continues) Copyright © 2015 Copyright Cengage©Learning® 2015 Cengage Learning® 6 -6

Solid Oral Drug Preparations (cont’d) • Enteric coated tablets – Delayed absorption until medication reaches small intestine • Capsules – Powdered or oily medications in gelatin cover (continues) Copyright © 2015 Copyright Cengage©Learning® 2015 Cengage Learning® 6 -7

Solid Oral Drug Preparations (cont’d) • Sustained or controlled-release capsules – Action of medication spread over prolonged period of time Copyright © 2015 Copyright Cengage©Learning® 2015 Cengage Learning® 6 -8

Tablet and Capsule Labels • Unit dosage label in which each tablet or capsule is packaged separately – Most common label in clinical setting Copyright © 2015 Copyright Cengage©Learning® 2015 Cengage Learning® 6 -9 (continues)

Tablet and Capsule Labels (cont’d) • Each drug has only one official name but may have several trade names, created by the companies that produce them. • Trade Name • Generic Name Copyright © 2015 Copyright Cengage©Learning® 2015 Cengage Learning® 6 -10

Drug Label Information • Trade or brand name – Capitalized • Generic or official name – Lowercase • Strength in metric measure – Always has unit of measure Copyright © 2015 Copyright Cengage©Learning® 2015 Cengage Learning® 6 -11

Labels • Trade Name = Synthroid. Identified by the registration symbol @. Trade names are capitalized and printed first. • Levothyroxine sodium is the generic or official name. In lower cases. • Dosage strength-137 mcg or 0. 137 mg. • Manufacturer-Abbvie • Total # of tablets-90 Copyright © 2015 Cengage Learning® 12

Drug Label Information (cont’d) • Manufacturers are continuing to correct the following on drug labels: – “gr” for gram, which is being eliminated from use in health care – Inserting a space between the dosage and the unit of measure, such as “ 500 mg” instead of “ 500 mg” (continues) Copyright © 2015 Copyright Cengage©Learning® 2015 Cengage Learning® 6 -13

Drug Label Information (cont’d) • Manufacturer • Lot number • Expiration date – Must

Other Label Information • If drug is in a multiple dose container, number of tablets or capsules in container will be on label. • United States Pharmacopeia (USP) or National Formulary (NF) may be on multiple dose containers. Copyright © 2015 Copyright Cengage©Learning® 2015 Cengage Learning® 6 -15

Caution • Learn to question orders for more than 3 tablets or capsules. Copyright

Liquid Oral Medications • In addition to aforementioned label information, labels for liquid oral medications state dosage strength in both: – Unit of measure • For example, mg, mcg, g, etc. – Amount of dosage strength in m. L of fluid (continues) Copyright © 2015 Copyright Cengage©Learning® 2015 Cengage Learning® 6 -17

Liquid Oral Medications (cont’d) • Smaller volumes may be measured in oral or hypodermic (without needle) syringes. • Larger volumes are usually measured in calibrated medication cup: – 20 m. L or more Copyright © 2015 Copyright Cengage©Learning® 2015 Cengage Learning® 6 -18

Multiple Drug Preparations • Preparations containing multiple drugs list name and dosage of each drug. – For example, Percocet™ contains oxycodone 5 mg and acetaminophen 325 mg (continues) Copyright © 2015 Copyright Cengage©Learning® 2015 Cengage Learning® 6 -19

Multiple Drug Preparations (cont’d) • Note –following drug name is the initial U. S. P ( United states pharmacopeia) official national listing of drugs. Copyright © 2015 Copyright Cengage©Learning® 2015 Cengage Learning® 6 -20

Safety Points • Some dosage strengths contain both metric and apothecary (gr) measures. •

Safety Points (cont’d) • Labels will not state amount of tablets/capsules or solution contained in prescribed dose. (continues) Copyright © 2015 Copyright Cengage©Learning® 2015 Cengage Learning® 6 -22

Safety Points (cont’d) • When using calibrated medicine cup for liquid oral medications: – Pour safely at eye level. – Always read calibrations carefully. • Some contain several seldom-used units of measure. Copyright © 2015 Copyright Cengage©Learning® 2015 Cengage Learning® 6 -23

Tablet/Capsule/Oral Liquid Medication Calculation • Use basic formula: • • D = desired or dosage prescribed H = have/on hand Q = quantity X = unknown Copyright © 2015 Copyright Cengage©Learning® 2015 Cengage Learning® 6 -24

Conversions • Conversions are necessary if medication is prescribed in one unit of metric measure and available (labeled) medication is in another unit of metric measure. • Make conversions before using basic formula. Copyright © 2015 Copyright Cengage©Learning® 2015 Cengage Learning® 6 -25

Medications • When the time comes to administer medications use the Medication Administr. ation Record or MAR tells you the amount of drug to be given Copyright © 2015 Copyright Cengage©Learning® 2015 Cengage Learning® 26