Pharmacy Units
 Measurements and Abbreviations
 There are others in the Student Handout book
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The most common ones (Must know)
 C=Celsius
 F =Fahrenheit
 G or gr =Gram
 Gr. = grain
 L= liter
 Ml= Milliliter
 Mg=Milligram
 Kg=Kilogram
 TBSP= tablespoon
 TSP= Teaspoon
 Gtt= drop
Measurement Systems
 Metric System- began in France in 1795.
 Denotes basic units of measurement in 6 main areas:
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Mass - Gram
Length- meter
Time- second
Volume- liter
Electricity- Ampere (named after the french mathematician ,
Andre Marie Ampere) is a unit of electric current.
Temperature – Kelvins
Conversions are made based on factors of ten:
 1000 micrograms = 1 milligram, 1000 milligrams= 1 gram
 Metric System is the preferred system in science and
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medicine due to its factor of ten basis. Used in most
countries in the world
Nano =0.0000000001
Micro = 0.0000001
Milli =0.001
Centi=0.01
Deci = 0.1
Kilo=1,000
 US Customary Units and British Imperial Systems
 Development over centuries in the British Isles and later
in the US colonies
 Formally standardized in 1824
 Still use in the US and Great Britain Today; however,
almost all scientific applications use the metric system
or the SI system (Système international d'unités )
 Avoirdupois system is a subsystem of weights in the US
and British Systems based on the pound.
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1 pound = 16 ounces = 480 grams (actually slightly less)
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The follow is a list of weights and their metric equivalents
 1 Grain = 65 mg (5 gr aspirin =325 mg) exception: 1 gr of
thyroid, phenobarbital, codeine and nitroglycerin) is 60 mg
 2.2 pound = 1 kilograms
 1 Dram (symbolized by ʒ) = 3.9 g and 1 f ʒ = 3.9 ml
 1 ounce = 28.35 g and 1 fl. Oz= 30 ml
 1 pint= 16 ounces and 16 fl.oz= 480 ml
 2 pints= 32 ounces and 32 fl.oz = 1 quart = 960 ml=0.96 liters
 8 pints= 128 ounces and 128 fl.oz=4 quarts = 1 gallon = 3.8 liters
 20 drops = 1 ml
Apothecary System
 Apothecary system is a system of weights and measure
used in Europe during the 18th century by physicians
and pharmacist (apothecary)
 Is a subset of the British Imperial systems
 The following are important to remember in pharmacy
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The follow is a list of weights and their metric equivalents
 1 Grain = 65 mg (5 gr aspirin =325 mg) exception: 1 gr of
thyroid, phenobarbital, codeine and nitroglycerin) is 60 mg
 1 Dram (symbolized by ʒ) = 3.9 g and 1 f ʒ = 3.9 ml
 The following is the symbols for the ounce, scruple, and the
pound
 The apothecary pounds is 12 ounces
Conversions between units
 To make a unit conversion note:
 units 1 X (unit 2/unit 1) = unit 2
 Or use the formula in the book:
 Unit you have X (the unit you need/unit you have)= the
unit you need
Electrolytes and their units
 In medicine electrolytes are reported in the following
units: mg/dl and mEq/l
 Electrolytes that are reported in mEq/l are sodium,
potassium.
 Normal sodium in humans is 135 mEq/l to 145 mEq/ml
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Low plasma sodium is called hyponatremia and high is
hypernatremia.
Na is the chemical symbol for sodium
 Normal plasma potassium is 4 mEq/l to 5 mEq/l
 Low plasma potassium is hypokalemia and high is
hyperkalemia
 The chemical symbol for potassium is K
 High potassium levels (greater than 9 mEq/l) is very
dangerous and can be fatal (death is by cardiac asystole)
Calcium
 The chemical symbol for calcium is Ca
 Calcium and Magnesium are divalent cations, meaning
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they have a charge of +2.
Sometimes you will see them write as Ca +2 and Mg +2
Normal plasma calcium is 8 mg/dl to 10 mg/dl
Calcium is important in the body for blood pressure,
cardiac function and blood clotting.
Calcium is sometimes used to reverse effects of high blood
potassium on the heart. An order you may see is
 1 gram calcium gluconate IVP X 2
 0.3 gram calcium chloride IVP X 2
More less Commonly used
abbreviations
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AMA= against medical advice
AV= arteriovenous
BE= Barium enema
BUN= Blood urea nitrogen
CC= chief complaint
Cl liq= clear liquids
DAT= diet as tolerated
Dim= one- half or SS
EENT= eye, ear, nose and throat
ERT- estrogen replacement therapy
FE= iron
GTT= glucose tolerance test
HRT= Hormone replacement therapy
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Hx= history
IM= intramuscular injection
I&O= intake and output
KCL= potassium chloride
mEq= milliequivalent
MOM= milk of magnesia
NPO= nothing by mouth
PRN = as needed
PO= by mouth
Qs= sufficient quantity
 SSE= soap suds enema
 Sum= take
 TPN= total parenteral nutrition
 Ung= ointment