PHARMACY GUIDE
CONTACT USUsefull Information
Controlled Substance Schedule
The Controlled Substances Acts of 1970, as amended, places certain restrictions on substances that have potential for abuse. These substances have been in categories according to their potential for abuse.
Schedule 1
C I
These substances have the highest potential for abuse and no accepted medical use in the United States.
Schedule 2
C II
High potential for abuse. Use may lead to severe physical or psychological dependence. No renewals are permitted. Prescriptions must be written in ink, or typewritten and signed by the practitioner.
Schedule 3
C III
Some Potential for abuse. To low to moderate physical dependence or high psychological dependence. Prescriptions may be oral or written. Up to 5 renewals are allowed within 6 months.
Schedule 4
C IV
Low potential for abuse. Use may lead to limited dependence either physically or psychologically. Prescriptions may be oral or written. Up to 5 renewals are permitted within 6 months.
Schedule 5
C V
Subject to state and local regulation. Abuse potential is low, a prescription may not be required.
Types of Recall
Class I
Product in question may cause serious, adverse health consequences or death.
Class II
Product in question may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote.
Class III
Product in question is not likely to cause adverse health consequences.
FDA Use-in-Pregnancy RatingCategory Interpretation
A Controlled studies show no risk. Does not show evidence of damage to the fetus.
B No evidence of risk to humans.
C Risk cannot be ruled out.
D Positive evidence of risk
X Contraindicated in pregnancy. Absolutely no reason to risk using during pregnancy.
Code and Therapeutic Definitions
"A" Codes
DRUG PRODUCTS THAT ARE CONSIDERED TO BE THERAPUETICALLY EQUIVALENT TO OTHER PHARMACEUTICALLY EQUIVALENT PRODUCTS.
FDA Codes
AA Products not presenting bioequivalence problems in conventional dosage forms.
AB Products meeting necessary bioequivalence requirements.
AP Injectable aqueous solutions
AT Topical products that are considered therapeutically equivalent to other pharmaceutically equivalent products.
AO Injectable oil solutions that are considered therapeutically equivalent to other pharmaceutically equivalent products.
"B" Codes
DRUG PRODUCTS THAT THE FDA DOES NOT AT THIS TIME CONSIDER TO BE THERAPEUTICALLY EQUIVALENT TO OTHER PHARMACEUTICALLY EQUIVALENT PRODUCTS.
FDA Codes
BC Controlled-release tablets, controlled capsules, and controlled-injectables (controlled-release products for which such bioequivalence data are available have been coded AB).
BD Active ingredients and dosage forms with documented bioequivalence problems.
BE Enteric-coated oral dosage forms(enteric-coated oral dosage forms for which bioequivalence data are available are coded AB).
BP Active ingredients and dosage forms with POTENTIAL bioequivalence problems.
BR Suppositories or enemas for systemic use.
BS Products having standard deficiencies(if the drug standards for an active ingredient in a particular dosage form are found by the FDA to be deficient so as to prevent an FDA evaluation of either pharmaceutical or therapeutical equivalence, all drug products containing that active ingredient in tha dosage form are coded BS. For example, if the standards permit a wide variation in pharmacologically active components of the active ingredient such that pharmaceutical equivalence is in question, all products containing that active ingredient in that dosage form are coded BS).
BT Topical products.
BX Insufficient data-These products are presumed to be therapeutically inequivalent until adequate information becomes available for full evaluation of therapeutic equivalence.
Selected Medical Abbreviations
aa | of each | I.V. | intravenous |
a.c. | before meals | k | kilogram |
a.d. | right ear | L | liter, left, put left |
ad lib. | as desired | lb. | pound |
a.l. | left ear | mcg. | microgram |
AM | morning | mEq. | milliequivalent |
amt | amount | mg. | milligram |
aq. | water, aqueous | ml. | milliliter |
a.u. | each year | mm. | millimeter |
b.i.d. | twice a day | No. | number |
B.P. | blood pressure | Noct. | night |
cap | capsule | NR | no refill |
cath | catheter | o.d | right eye |
C.B.C. | complete blood count | o.s | left eye |
cc. | cubic centimeter | o.u. | each eye |
chol | cholesterol | oz. | ounce |
cm | centimeter | P | pulse, print |
c/o | complain of | PM | afternoon, evening |
comp | compounded of | P.O. | by mouth |
CV | cardiovascular | p.r.n. | as needed |
dil | dilute | pt | patient, pint |
disch | discharge | pulv. | powder |
disp | dispensary | q4h | every 4 hours |
dr | dram | q.d. | every day |
Dx | diagnosis | q.h. | every hour |
E.E.N.T | eye, ear, nose & throat | q.i.d | four times a day |
etc. | and so on | q.o.d. | every other day |
exp | expired | qt. | quart |
ext | extract, external | RX | a prescription |
fl dr. | fluidram | sol. | solutions |
fl oz. | fluid ounce | solv. | dissolve |
ft. | let there be made | s.o.s. | if necessary or required |
F.U.O. | fever of unknown origin | stat | immediately |
gm. | gram | syr. | syrup |
gr. | grain | tab | tablet |
gtt. | a drop or drops | tbsp. | tablespoonful |
hr. | hour | t.i.d. | three times a day |
h.s. | at bedtime | TPN. | total parental nutrition |
hypo | hypodermic syringe or injection | tsp. | teaspoonful |
H2O | water | ung. | ointment |
inj | injection | vol. | volume |
wt. | weight |
Conversion Tables
Metric Doses with Approximate Apothecary Equivalents
LIQUID MEASURE
Metric | Approximate Apothecary Equivalents | Metric | Approximate Appothecary Equivalents |
1000 ml | 1 quart | 3 ml | 45 minims |
750 ml | 1-1/2 pints | 3 ml | 30 minims |
500 ml | 1 pint | 1 ml | 15 minims |
250 ml | 8 fluid ounces | .75 ml | 12 minims |
200 ml | 7 fluid ounes | .6 ml | 10 minims |
100 ml | 3-1/2 fluid ounces | .5 ml | 8 minims |
50 ml | 1-3/4 fluid ounces | .3 ml | 5 minims |
30 ml | 1 fluid ounce | .25 ml | 4 minims |
15 ml | 4 fluid drams | .2 ml | 3 minims |
10 ml | 2-1/2 fluid drams | .1 ml | 1-1/2 minims |
8 ml | 2 fluid drams | .06 ml | 1 minims |
5 ml | 1-1/4 fluid drams | .05 ml | 3/4 minims |
4 ml | 1 fluid dram | .03 ml | 1/2 minims |
WEIGHT
Metric | Approximate Apothecary Equivalents | Metric | Approximate Appothecary Equivalents |
30 g | 1 ounce | 20 mg | 1/2 grain |
15 g | 4 drams | 25 mg | 3/8 grain |
10 g | 2-1/2 drams | 20 mg | 1/3 grain |
7.5 g | 2 drams | 15 mg | 1/4 grain |
6 g | 90 grains | 12 mg | 1/5 grain |
5 g | 75 grains | 10 mg | 1/6 grain |
4 g | 60 grains (1 dram) | 8 mg | 1/8 grain |
3 g | 45 grains | 6 mg | 1/10 grain |
2 g | 30 grains (1/2 dram) | 5 mg | 1/12 grain |
1.5 mg | 22 grains | 4 mg | 1/15 grain |
1 g | 15 grains | 3 mg | 1/20 grain |
750 mg | 12 grains | 2 mg | 1/30 grain |
600 mg | 10 grains | 1.5 mg | 1/40 grain |
500 mg | 7-1/2 grains | 1.2 mg | 1/50 grain |
400 mg | 6 grains | 1 mg | 1/60 grain |
300 mg | 5 grains | 800 ug | 1/80 grain |
250 mg | 4 grains | 600 ug | 1/100 grain |
200 mg | 3 grains | 500 ug | 1/120 grain |
150 mg | 2-1/2 grains | 400 ug | 1/150 grain |
125 mg | 2 grains | 300 ug | 1/200 grain |
100 mg | 1-1/2 grains | 250 ug | 1/250 grain |
75 mg | 1-1/4 grains | 200 ug | 1/300 grain |
60 mg | 1 grain | 150 ug | 1/400 grain |
50 mg | 3/4 grain | 130 ug | 1/500 grain |
40 mg | 2/3 grain | 100 ug | 1/600 grain |
Conversion Factors
To convert:
Milligrams per kilogram to milligrams per pound, multiply by .45
Milligrams per kilogram to grains per pound, multiply by .007
Milligrams per pound to grains per pound, multiply by .015
Grains per pound to milligrams per pound, multiply by 65
Grains per pound to milligrams per kilogram, multiply by 143
Fahrenheit degrees into Celsius, subtract 32, multiply by 5 and divide by 9
Celsius degrees into Fahrenheit, multiply by 9, divide by 5, and add 32
Weights, Measures and Equivalents
(conversions from 1 system to another are approximate)
1 kilogram = 1,000 grams
1 gram = 1,000 milligrams
1 milligram = 1,000 micrograms
60 milligrams = 1 grain
28.35 grams = 1 ounce
1 kilogram = 2.2 pounds
454 grams = 1 pound
1 millimeter = 0.04 inches
1 centimeter = .4 inches
2.5 centimeter = 1 inch
1 meter = 39.37 inches
1 liter = 1,000 cubic centimeters
1 liter = 1,000 milliliters
30 milliliters = 1 fluid ounce
20 drops = 1 milliliter
1 teaspoon = 5 milliliters
1 tablespoon = 15 milliliters
16 ounces = 1 pint
2 pints = 1 quart
4 quarts = 1 gallon
1 pint = 473 milliliters