Conversion
Equivalent length
1 m = 39.37 in
1 in = 2.54 cm
Equivalents of volume
1 mL = 16.23 minim.
1 minim = 0.06 mL .
1 fluidrachm = 3.69 mL .
1 fluidounce = 29.57 mL .
1 pt = 473 mL .
1 gal (U.S.) = 3785 mL .
Equivalents of weight
1 g = 15.432 gr.
1 Kg = 2.2 Ib.
1 gr = 0.065g = 65 mg .
1 oz (avoir) = 28.35 g .
1 oz =31.1 g .
1 Ib (avoir) = 454 g .
1 Ib (apoth.) = 373.2 g .
Examples
The fiber length of purified cotton is 6.35 mm.
Express the length in inches.
6.35 mm = 0.635 cm .
1 in 2.54 cm .
X 0.635 cm.
X = 0.25 in .
Examples
A medicinal plaster measures 4.5 in by 6.5 in. what
are its dimensions in cm ?
4.5 in x 2.54 cm = 11.4 cm wide .
6.5 in x 2.54 cm = 16.5 cm length.
Convert 0.4 mL to minims.
Solution:
0.4 mL x 16.23 minims = 6.492 minims or 6.5 .
Examples
Convert 2.5 L to fluidounces.
2.5 L = 2500 mL .
1 FZ 29.57 mL.
X 2500 mL.
X = 84.5 FZ.
Examples
Convert fz iiss to mL .
fz iiss = 2.5 fluidrachm. X 60 minim = 150 minim.
1 mL 16.23 minims
X 150 minims
X = 9.24 mL.
Convert O iiss to mL.
O iiss = 2.5 pint x 16 FZ = 40 fluidounce.
40 x 29.57 mL = 1182 mL.
Examples
Convert 12.5 g to gr .
1 gr 0.065 g.
X 12.5 g.
X = 192.3 gr.
Convert 6.2 gr to mg .
6.2 x 65 mg = 403 mg.
Dose calculation
Approximate equivalents
1 teaspoonful = 5 mL = 1 1/3 fz .
1 tablespoonful = 15 mL = 4 fz = ½ FZ.
1 FZ = 6 teaspoonful .
number of doses = total amount / size of the dose.
Size of the dose = total amount / number of doses.
Examples
If the dose of the drug is 200 mg , how many doses
are contained in 10 grams ?
10 g = 10000 mg.
Number of doses = 10000 mg/ 200 mg = 50 doses.
How many 20- minims doses are contained in 40 mL
of a liquid ?
40 mL = 40 x 16.23 m = 649.2 m .
Number of doses = 649.2 / 20 = 32 doses.
If the dose of a medicine is 1/5 gr . How many doses
are contained in ½ drachm ?
½ dram = 0.5 x 60 = 30 gr .
Number of doses = 30 / 0.2 = 150 doses .
If 1 tablespoonful is prescribed as a dose , how many
doses are in 12 fluidounces ?
1 tablespoonful = 4 fz = 0.5 fluidounce .
Number of doses = 12 FZ/ 0.5 = 24 doses .
how many drops would be prescribed in each dose of
a liquid if 15 ml contained 60 doses ?
The dispenser calibrates 32 drops / ml .
15 ml =15 x 32 drops = 480 drops .
Size of the dose = 480 drops / 60 = 8 drops .
Examples
How many mL of a liquid medicine would provide a
patient with 2 tablespoonful twice a day for 8 days ?
number of doses = 2 x 8 = 16 dose.
Size of the dose = 2 tablespoonful = 30 ml .
Total amount = 16 x30 = 480 ml
How many fluidounces of a mix. Would provide a patient
with a teaspoonful dose 3 times daily for 16 days ?
Number of doses = 3x 16 = 48
Size of the dose = 1 teaspoonful = 1 1/3 fluidrachm
Amount =48 x 1 1/3 = 64 fluidrachm = 8 fluidounce.
How many mg of a drug will be needed to prepare 72
dosage if each dosage contain 1/12 grains ?
Number of doses = 72
Size of the dose = 1/12 gr = 1/12 x 65 = 5.4 mg .
Total amount = 72 x 5.4 mg = 390 mg .
If 0.05 g of substance is used in preparation of 125
tablets , how many ug are present in each tablet ?
0.05 g = 50 mg = 50 000 ug .
50000/ 125 tab. = 400 ug .
If a preparation contains 5 g of a drug in 500 ml , how
many grams are in each Tablespoonful ?
1 tablespoonful = 15 ml
5g 500 ml
X 15 ml x = 0.15 g.
How many grains of codeine and ammonium
chloride will be in each dose of the following
prescription ?
R codeine sulfate gr vi
ammonium chloride z iss
Cherry syrup FZ vi
Sig : Teaspoonful for cough
Solution
FZ = 6 x 8 = 48 fluidrachm .
1 teaspoonful = 1 1/3 fz.
48 / 1 1/3 = 36 doses .
OR
1 FZ = 6 teaspoonful
6 FZ = 36 teaspoonful
6 gr / 36 teaspoonful = 1/6 gr codeine.
1.5 drachm = 90 gr 90 gr/36 = 2.5 gr of
ammonium chloride.
