Med Math Ch 5

• extended length
• tablets

controlled dose (tablets)

sustained release (tablets)

• placed under tongue - dissolve quickly
• medication is absorbed through capillaries so it reached patents circulation w/o passing through gastrointestinal tract

• gelatin - hold a drug in solid or liquid form
• Avoid opening capsules - check with pharmacist before opening to combine with food

Do not open capsules called - spansule, timespan, time release, or sustained relsease

suspension with large bulky particles - Milk of Magnesia

• Suspensions that contain small particles
• eg magnesium hydroxide gel

creamy, white suspension of fats or oils in an agent that reduces surface tension and makes them easier to swallow - emulsified castor oil

dry, finely ground drugs - must be reconstituted according to package directions

• When you reconstitute a powder write on the label:
• 1. date
• 2. time
• 3. your initials
• 4. solution you made

• powdered drug that has ingredients to help bind it into shape
• - most may be crushed

Scored tablets may be cut

Coated tablets - some may be crushed - check with pharmacist

do not crush

- dissolves in alkaline small intestine - not in acidic stomach

have numbers, letters or both on tablet for identification

drug in sugary solution

contraindicated for patients with diabetes mellitus

• hydroalcoholic liquid concentrations of drug
• (sugar & alcohol)
• contraindicated for diabetes mellitus & history of alcoholism

• alcoholic liquid concentrations of a drug
• very potent - ordered in small amounts
• tinctures ordered in drops
• fluidextracts are most concentrated of all liquids - average dose is 2 tsp or less

• -by injection
• ID - intradermal
• Sub Q - subcutaneous
• IM - intramuscular
• IV - intravenous
• IVPB - intravenous piggyback

Aerosol powders or liquids - sprayed onto skin or mucous membrane (inhalers)

• Powders
• Creams
• Ointments - in petroleum or lanolin base for topical use
• -ointments for the eye are ophthalmic

Pastes - thick ointments for skin - absorb secreations & soften skin

Suppositories - commanly cocoa butter

Transdermal medications - drug molecules in polymer patch that is applied to the skin - slowly released and absorbed through the skin

Topical drops - water or saline - treat eyes, ears, nose

1. Pour to a line - never estimate a dose between lines

2. Pour liquids at eye level and on a flat surface - measure to the meniscus

• gauge - indicates the diameter of the needle
• larger # = smaller diameter

• when preparing a dose:
• -hold syringe with needle up & draw down medication into barrel

• 3-mL - mL to the nearest tenth
• 1 -mL - precision syringe - tuberculin syringe
• - marked in hundredths of mL - most accurate
• 100 unit insulin syringe
• 50 unit insulin syringe

• 3-mL syringe
• mL = carry out decimal two places & round to tenth
• minim = carry to tenth and round to whole number

• 1 - mL syringe
• mL = carry 3 places & round to hundredth
• minim = carry two places & round to tenth

do not round for pediatric patients

• intradermal - 1 to 1.5 cm long & 25G - short bevel
• subcutaneous - 1.5 to 2 cm long - 25G to 23G - medium bevels
• intramuscular - 2.5 to 7.5 cm long - 23G to 18 G - medium bevels
• intravenous - 1" to 3" long - 25G to 14G - ling bevels

• 1. guage - inside diameter - smaller gauge = larger dia
• 2. Bevel - angle of opening
• 3. Length - distance from tip to hub of needle

• choose based on:
• 1. route of administration
• 2. size and condition of patient
• 3. amount of adipose tissue present at the site