1. Chapter 11
Oral Dosages
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2. Oral Medications Preferred way to administer medications
Absorbed through GI tract except sublingual
Absorbed primarily in the small intestine
Some may need to be given with food
Others can be harmful to teeth and need to be taken with a straw
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3. Oral Dosages Tablets Capsules Liquids Suspensions Caplets Elixirs
Many physicians order medications that allow the patient to cut tablets in half at home, thereby decreasing the cost of the medication and encouraging patient compliance.
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4. Oral Medications Scored tablets Enteric coated Time Released
Alert—Ensure medication can be crushed
Time Released
Extended Release
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5. Oral Medications
Liquid forms of medications can be measured in medicine cup, oral syringe, or dropper
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6. Oral Medications Table 11-1 Forms of Medications
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7. Formula D x Q H D= is the desired dose; dose that has been ordered
H= what you have in your hand; dose supplied
Q= how the dose is supplied
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8. Oral Dosages Involving Capsules and Tablets: by Formula
For example:
The order states Augmentin 500 mg po daily. The drug is supplied in 250-mg tablets. How many tablets will the nurse administer?
How many tablets will be administered?
Place an x and the name of the drug form on the left. On the right side, place the available information related to that form. In this example:
x tablet = (1 tablet)/(250 mg).
Next, complete the problem with the matching information:
x tablet = [(1 tablet)/(250 mg)] × [(500 mg)/(1)].
x = 2 tablets
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9. Oral Dosages Involving Liquids: by Formula
For example:
The physician orders Thorazine 20 mg po q4h. The drug is available in 120-mL bottles of Thorazine syrup containing 10 mg/5 mL. How many milliliters will the nurse administer?
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10. Oral Dosages Involving Milliequivalents: by Formula
For example:
The physician orders potassium chloride (KCl) 60 mEq three times a day with meals. KCl 40 mEq/30 mL is available. How many milliliters will the nurse administer?
How many milliliters will be administered?
x mL = 30 mL/40 mEq
x mL = (30 mL/40 mEq) × (60 mEq/1)
x mL = 45 mL
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11. Converting Measures
For example:
A physician ordered amoxicillin 0.5 g po four times a day. The drug is supplied in 500-mg capsules.
Why is it necessary to convert oral drug measurements from one system to another?
Physicians can order a drug in one system of measurement when it is supplied in another. It is then necessary to convert between measures so that both measurements are in the same system.
Convert the measurements in the example.
Because the drug is supplied in milligrams, convert the measurement in the order to milligrams.
1000 mg : 1 g :: x mg : 0.5 g
1x = 1000 × 0.5
x = 500 mg
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12. Oral Dosages Involving Capsules and Tablets by Formula
For example:
The physician orders aspirin gr v po four times a day. Aspirin tablets gr ii are available. How many tablets will the nurse administer?
How many tablets will the nurse administer?
The desired amount is 5 gr. The available strength is 2 gr. There is no need to convert.
[(5 gr)/(2 gr)] × (1 tablet) = x tablets
x = 5/2
x = 2½
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13. Oral Dosages Involving Liquids by Formula
For example:
The physician orders phenobarbital gr ii po twice a day. Phenobarbital elixir 10 mg/5 mL is available. How many milliliters will the nurse administer?
How many milliliters will the nurse administer?
Convert the order to milligrams per milliliter.
60 mg : 1 gr :: x mg : 2 gr
x = 120 mg
Place the numbers into the formula (D/A) × Q = x.
[(120 mg)/(10 mg)] × (5 mL) = x
x = 120/2 = 60
The nurse will administer 60 mL.
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