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Drug Calculation Methods

There are four main methods for prescribing drugs: tablets/capsules, liquids, body surface area, and body weight. Calculating dosages requires determining the amount prescribed, the concentration per unit, and applying the appropriate formula. For tablets/capsules, the formula is the amount prescribed divided by the amount per tablet. For liquids, it is the amount prescribed divided by the concentration per volume, multiplied by the dispensing volume. For body surface area dosing, it is the surface area multiplied by the dosage per area.

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359 views

Drug Calculation Methods

There are four main methods for prescribing drugs: tablets/capsules, liquids, body surface area, and body weight. Calculating dosages requires determining the amount prescribed, the concentration per unit, and applying the appropriate formula. For tablets/capsules, the formula is the amount prescribed divided by the amount per tablet. For liquids, it is the amount prescribed divided by the concentration per volume, multiplied by the dispensing volume. For body surface area dosing, it is the surface area multiplied by the dosage per area.

Uploaded by

Joe Shewale
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Drug Calculation Methods:

There are four main ways in which drugs may be prescribed, these ways are:
1. In tablet or capsule form
2. Liquid medicines
3. Prescribed based on body surface area
4. Prescribed based on body weight
In this guide we will describe how to calculate all via these methods and offer examples.
1) TABLET or CAPSULE FORM
When giving via tablet or capsule form be sure to check the dose and the prescribed dose to make sure
they are in the same unit. Change the large unit to the smaller unit to avoid decimal point confusion.
Formula = Amount of Drug Prescribed / Amount of Drug in Each Tablet
Example = The patient is prescribed 250mg of Aspirin and you have tablets that are 500mg each.
Using the formula above, you know 250mg /500mg = 0.5 or half of one tablet.
2) LIQUID MEDICINES
Calculating dosages for liquids is more complicated than for tablets or capsules. The reason for this is
there may be different concentrations of drug in medicines and as a result, it will take a different
volume of medicine to achieve the required amount.
Formula = [ amount of drug prescribed / amount of drug in each unit ] multiplied by [ volume drug is
in (i.e. 1mL) / 1]
Example = The patient is prescribed amoxicillin 150 mg. The bottle label states that there is 250mg
in 10mL. [150mg/250ml] multiplied by [10ml / 1] = [0.60] multiplied by [10] which is 6mL.
3) BODY SURFACE AREA:
Calculating drug dosage according to body surface area can be tricky. This guide will go through both
the formula and calculation steps for calculating dosage according to body surface area and will also
include a body surface area calculator.
Formula = Surface Area ( m2) multiplied by dose per m2 = dose in grams or milligrams
Example = The patient has been charted a drug which has the dosage of 600mg/m 2 and the patient
has an overall surface area of 1.36m 2. To calculate the dosage we simply take 1.36m2 and multiply by
the dosage of 600mg/m2 which equals 816 mg

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