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

Math for the Pharmacy Technician:
Concepts and Calculations
Egler • Booth

Chapter 5: Drug

Labels, Package
Inserts, and References

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Drug Labels and Package
Inserts

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5-3

Learning Objectives
When you have successfully completed Chapter 5, you will
have mastered skills to be able to:





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.
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Learning Objectives






(con’t)

Recognize different types of
tablets and capsules.
Distinguish administration routes
for medications.

Locate additional information in a
package insert.

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Introduction








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
dosage calculations.
Be sure you know exactly what is on the
drug label.
Be sure to read the fine print.

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Locating Information on Drug
Labels and Package Inserts


Drug name



Form of the drug



Dosage strength



Total amount in the
container



Warnings



Route of administration



Storage requirements



Manufacturing information

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Drug Name
Generic name =
official name


By law this
name must
appear on the
label.

Trade name =
brand name used

to market the
drug

Levothyroxine
Levothyroxine Sodium
Sodium =
= Synthroid
Synthroid
(generic
(genericname)
name)
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(trade
(tradename)
name)

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Drug Name




(con’t)

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.
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Drug Name

(con’t)

 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®
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Form of the Drugs


Solid oral medications




Liquids




tablets, capsules, gelcaps, caplets
oral, injections, inhalants, drops, sprays,
mists

Other


ointments, creams, lotions, patches,
suppositories, shampoos
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Dosage Strength




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
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Dosage Strength

(con’t)

Solid medications


Dosage strength is the amount of drug
present per tablet, capsule, or other form

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Dosage Strength

(con’t)

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

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Combination 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)
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Total Number or Volume in
Container
Many oral meds are packaged in unit
doses



a single tablet
vial with 2 mL of solution for injection

Multiple-dose containers


one container with 50 gelcaps

Nonprescription medication


often packaged in multiple-dose containers
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Total Number or Volume in
Container (con’t)
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.

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Route of Administration






Directions for the route of
administration may be
specified on the label.
If a tablet or capsule is
not swallowed, additional
information will be
provided.
Label will indicate
injection route.

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Route of Administration
(con’t)


Tablets/Capsules




orally
sublingually
chewable

 Liquids
 orally
 injection
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CAUTION!




Give the right medication
by the right route.
Do not administer drugs by
any route other
than
intended,
as described
in the drug label or on
the order.
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Warnings




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.

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Storage Information




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.

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Manufacturing Information


Labels are regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) and must include:

Name of the manufacturer

Expiration date
∙
abbreviated EXP, after which the drug may
no longer be used

Lot number
∙
indicates when and where a drug was
produced
∙
allows manufacturer to trace problems

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Manufacturing Information
(con’t)

 Never use a drug after the


expiration date has passed.
Older drugs may become chemically
unstable or altered.

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Information About
Reconstituting Drugs






Powder forms of drugs must be
reconstituted by adding a liquid for
administration before you can give
the drug.
Directions for reconstituting are on
the label.
Label indicates the time period
within which they can be safely
administered.
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CAUTION!
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.

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