Pharmacy Pearl #1
These are conversions you should know as a pharmacist.
Conversions
Weight (Solid)
1 kilogram (kg) = 2.2 pounds (lbs)
1 ounce (oz) = 28.4 grams (g)
1 pound (lbs)= 454 grams (g)
1 grain (gr) = 65 mg (approximate)= 64.8 mg (actual)
Volume (Liquid)
1 teaspoon (tsp/t) = 5 mL
1 tablespoon (tbsp/T) = 15 mL
1 fluid ounce (fl oz) = 30 mL (approximate)= 29.57 mL (actual)
1 cup = 8 oz = 240 mL (approximate) = 236.56 mL (actual)
1 pint(pt) = 16 oz= 480 mL (approximate) = 473 mL (actual)
1 quart(qt) = 2 pints = 32 oz= 960 mL (approximate) = 946 mL (actual)
1 gallon = 4 quarts = 128 oz = 3840 mL (approximate) = 3785 mL (actual)
Height
1 inch (in) = 2.54 centimeters (cm)
1 meter (m) = 100 centimeters (cm)
Chemistry
Milliequivalents (mEq) and Millimoles (mmol)
K+, Na+ and other monovalent ions: 1 mEq = 1 mmol
Ca2+ and other divalent ions: 1 mEq = 0.5 mmol
Notes
Drugs can be expressed in various units. Be familiar with them.
Weight: grams(g), milligrams(mg), micrograms(mcg), nanograms(ng)
Liquid: Liters(L), milliliters(mL), deciliters(dL)
As percentage strengths: g in 100 mL, g in 100 g, mL in 100 mL
e.g. 25% albumin (=12.5 g/50 mL), 1 % hydrocortisone (=10 mg/mL)
As drug concentrations: amount of drug in a given amount of volume (mcg/mL or mg/L)
e.g. phenytoin mg/L, creatinine 1.5 mg/dL
As milliequivalent concentrations: milliequivalents (mEq) per liter (mEq/L)
e.g. Potassium 3.6 mEq/L