Copyright © 2015 Cengage Learning® Chapter 6 Oral Medication Labels and Dosage Calculation Cheryl Proffitt RM, MSN September 2015

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

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

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

Copyright © 2015 Cengage Learning® 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. 6-5

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

Copyright © 2015 Cengage Learning® 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) 6-7

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

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

Copyright © 2015 Cengage Learning® 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 6-10

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

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

Copyright © 2015 Cengage Learning® 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 “500mg” (continues) 6-13

Copyright © 2015 Cengage Learning® Drug Label Information (cont’d) Manufacturer Lot number Expiration date –Must check before administering 6-14

Copyright © 2015 Cengage Learning® 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. 6-15

Copyright © 2015 Cengage Learning® Caution Learn to question orders for more than 3 tablets or capsules. 6-16

Copyright © 2015 Cengage Learning® 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 mL of fluid (continues) 6-17

Copyright © 2015 Cengage Learning® 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 mL or more 6-18

Copyright © 2015 Cengage Learning® 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) 6-19

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

Copyright © 2015 Cengage Learning® Safety Points Some dosage strengths contain both metric and apothecary (gr) measures. Read labels carefully. (continues) 6-21

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

Copyright © 2015 Cengage Learning® 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. 6-23

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

Copyright © 2015 Cengage Learning® 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. 6-25

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

Copyright © 2015 Cengage Learning® References Curren,W.(2011). Math for Meds, dosage & solutions. (11 th ed). Cengage Learning. 27