Copyright © 2013 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Dosing Considerations Dosing Considerations • Packaging • Sex • Weight • Age • Physical Condition • Other drugs that the patient is taking

Copyright © 2013 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Responsible Parties Responsible Parties • The prescriber who orders the drug • The pharmacist who dispenses the drug • The nurse who administers the drug

Copyright © 2013 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Metric System Metric System • Solids: Gram (g) – 1 milligram (mg) = 0.001 g – 1 microgram (mcg) = 0.000001 g – 1 kilogram (kg) = 1000 g • Liquids: Liter (L) – 1 milliliter (mL) = 0.001 L – 1 mL = 1 cubic centimeter = 1 cc

Copyright © 2013 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Apothecary System Apothecary System • Solids: Grain (gr) – 60 gr = 1 dram (dr) – 8 dr = 1 ounce (oz) • Liquids: Minim (min) – 60 minim = 1 fluidram (f dr) – 8 f dr = 1 fluidounce (f oz)

Copyright © 2013 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Household System Household System • Solids: Pound (lb) – 1 lb = 16 ounces (oz) • Liquids: Pint (pt) – 2 pt = 1 quart (qt) – 4 qt = 1 gallon (gal) – 16 oz = 1 pt = 2 cups (c) – 32 tablespoons (tbsp) = 1 pt – 3 teaspoons (tsp) = 1 tbsp – 60 drops (gtt) = 1 tsp

Copyright © 2013 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Other Systems Other Systems • Avoirdupois System – Older system – Ounces and grains • Other Systems – Measures may reflect chemical activity or biological equivalence • Unit • Milliequivalents • International units

Copyright © 2013 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Question Question Tell whether the following statement is true or false. The avoirdupois system is a system of measurement that uses ounces and grains.

Copyright © 2013 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Answer Answer True Rationale: The avoirdupois system is another older system that was very popular when pharmacists routinely had to compound medications on their own. This system uses ounces and grains, but they measure differently than those of the apothecary and household systems. The avoirdupois system is seldom used by prescribers, but may be used for bulk medications that come directly from the manufacturer.