Lecture Math for the pharmacy technician Concepts and calculations Chapter 5 – Lynn M. Egler, Kathryn A. Booth

Chapter 5, Drug labels, package inserts, and references, teaches students how to find a wide range of information common to all drug labels and package inserts, then specifi cally how to fi nd information about oral and parenteral medications and medications administered by other routes.

Chapter 5: Drug Labels, Package

Inserts, and References

Inserts, and References

Egler • Booth

 Identify on a drug label the drug

name, form, dosage strength, route,

warnings, and manufacturing and

storage information.

 Locate directions on drug labels and

package inserts for reconstituting

and diluting medications.

When you have successfully completed Chapter 5, you will

have mastered skills to be able to:

 Recognize different types of

tablets and capsules.

 Distinguish administration routes

for medications.

 Locate additional information in a

package insert.

 Now that you have learned basic math,

equipment, and drug orders, it is time to

learn about drugs.

 The drug label and package inserts contain

information that you need to perform

Generic name =

official name

 By law this

name must appear on the label.

Levothyroxine Sodium = Synthroid

(generic name) (trade name)

Levothyroxine Sodium = Synthroid

(generic name) (trade name)

Trade name = brand name used

to market the drug

 Registered mark ® indicates the

name has been legally registered

with the U.S Patent and

Trademark Office.

 Several companies may

manufacture the same drug and

market it under different trade

names.

 You must know both the generic

and trade names of drugs.

Example Vicodin ® is a narcotic painkiller

Generic name: hydrocodone bitartrate

and acetaminophen

Other trade names: Anexsia ® , Lortab ® ,

Zydone ®

 Solid oral medications

 tablets, capsules, gelcaps, caplets

 Drug labels include information about the

amount of drug present.

 This amount combined with information

about the form, identifies the drug’s dosage

strength.

Note: Dosage strength is stated as amount of

drug per dosage unit.

Grams (g), milligrams (mg), micrograms

(mcg), or grains (gr) or Units

Solid medications

 Dosage strength is the amount of drug

present per tablet, capsule, or other form

Liquid medications

 Dosage strength is the amount of drug

present in certain quantity of solution

 You need to know both the amount of drug

and the amount of total solution

 Amount of solution varies per dosage unit

 Pharmaceutical companies manufacture

meds with dosage strengths that match

commonly prescribed drugs

 Generic names and dosage strengths of

all components of a combination drug

must appear on the label.

 All combination drugs have a trade name

that is usually used in drug orders.

Lortab ® 5/500 1 tab q 4-6 h PRN for pain

(Lortab ® contains 5 mg hydrocodone bitartrate and

500 mg acetaminophen)

Many oral meds are packaged in unit

Do not confuse the total amount of

drug in the container with the

dosage strength.

The container may hold 100 tablets

and each tablet has a dosage

strength of 2.5 mg per tablet.

 Directions for the route of

 Give the right medication

by the right route.

any route other

than intended,

as described

in the drug label or on

the order.

 Help to administer drugs safely

 “May be habit forming.”

 “Not safe for pregnant women or children.”

 “Keep under close observation of a

physician.”

 Disposal of drugs

 Follow guidelines of facility.

 For example, flush narcotics with a coworker

as witness, then appropriately document.

 To maintain the drug’s potency and

effectiveness

 Information will appear on label

 storage temperature

 exposure to light

 length of time drug will remain potent after

container has been opened

Storage at the wrong temperature or

exposure to light can trigger a chemical

reaction and make the drug unusable.

 Labels are regulated by the U.S Food and Drug

Administration (FDA) and must include:

 Name of the manufacturer

 Never use a drug after the

expiration date has passed.

unstable or altered.

 Powder forms of drugs must be

reconstituted by adding a liquid for

administration before you can give

the drug

the label.

within which they can be safely

administered.

Consider the age and health needs

of your patient when you

administer a drug.

If you see a situation where another form of

a drug may work better, consult the

physician or pharmacist about changing the

form of the drug.

Provide complete and authoritative

information about a medication:

 Description chemical and physical

description of the drug

 Clinical Pharmacology actions of the drug

 Indications and Usage

 Contraindications

 Warnings

 Precautions

 Adverse Reactions

 Overdosage

 Dosage and Administration

 Preparation for Administration

 Manufacturer Supply

Oral medications are available either

in solid or liquids

 Tablets

 Scored can be broken into equal portions

 Chewable must be chewed to be effective

 Enteric-coated must be swallowed whole

 Capsules

 Sustained-release must be swallowed whole

 You may break tablets to give a

partial dose only when the

tablets are scored

Abbreviations such as SR, CR, and

ER listed after the drug name

indicates a special drug action

 SR = sustained release

 CR = controlled release

 ER = extended-release

 When you reconstitute a drug,

you must write your initials as

well as the time and date of

reconstitution on the label.

Orally

What is the trade name of the drug?

How should this medication be administered?

What is the dosage strength? 10 mg/tablet

 Packaged as

 Single-use ampules or vials

 Single-use prefilled syringes

 Dosage strength expressed as

0.2 mg/mL

Furosemide

What is the dosage strength

of the drug?

What is the drug’s name?

What is the route of administration?

IM or IV

 Sublingually (under the tongue)

 Buccally (between the tongue and cheek)

What is another name for the brand name?

Answer: trade name

Answer: generic name

True or False

Answer: True

 Capsules may be opened and mixed with

food.

True or False

 You may administer a drug after

the expiration date has expired if

you do not have any new ones.

Answer: False

Answer: False

 You can use as much solution as

you need to reconstitute a powdered

medication.

THE END