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Dosage Conversions
Conversions Using the Metric System and Household System
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| 1 kilogram (kg) means one thousand | 1000 grams |
| 1 hectogram (hg) means one hundred | 100 grams |
| 1 dekagram (dag) means ten | 10 |
| 1 gram (g) means one | one |
| 1 decigram (dg) means one-tenth | 0.1 gram (1/10) |
| 1 centigram (cg) means one-hundredth | 0.01 gram (1/100) |
| 1 milligram (mg) means one-thousandth | 0.001 (1/1000) |
| 1 microgram (mcg) means one-millionth | 0.000001 (1/1,000,000) |
| 1 nanogram (mg) means one-billionth | 0.000000001 (1/1,000,000,000) |
| 1 kiloliter (kL) | 1000 liters |
| 1 hectoliter (hL) | 100 liters |
| 1 dekaliter (daL) | 10 liters |
| 1 liter (l, L) | 1000 mL, 1 qt, 32 fl oz |
| 1 deciliter (dL) | 0.1 liter (1/10 liter) |
| 1 centiliter (cL) | 0.01 liter (1/100 liter) |
| 1 milliliter (mL) | 0.001 liter (1/1000 liter) |
| 1 kilometer (km) | 1000 meters |
| 1 hectometer (hm) | 100 meters |
| 1 dekameter (dam) | 10 meters |
| 1 metric (m) | 1 meter |
| 1 decimeter (dm) | 0.1 meter (1/10 meter) |
| 1 centimeter (cm) | 0.01 meter (1/100 meter) |
| 1 millimeter (mm) | 0.001 meter (1/1000 meter) |
| 1 drop (gt) (gtt) | 1 minim (m) |
| 1 teaspoon (t) | 60 drops (gtt) 5 mL |
| 1 tablespoon (T) | 3 teaspoons (t) |
| 1 ounce (oz) | 2 tablespoons (T) |
| 1 coffee cup (c) | 6-8 ounces (oz) |
| 1 medium-size glass | 8 ounces (oz) |
| 1 measuring cup | 8 ounces (oz) |
| 1 kg | 2.2 lb. |
| 0.5 L | 1 pt, 16 fl oz |
| 0.24 L | 8 oz |
| 30 mL | 2 T, 6 t, 1 oz |
| 15 mL | 1 T, 3 t, 1/2 oz |
| 4 mL | 1 t |
| 1 mL | 15-16 gtt (drops) |
| 2.54 cm | 1 inch |
| 25.4 mm | 1 inch |
| To convert liters and quarts to ounces | multiply the number of liters by 32 |
| To convert ounces to liters | divide the number of ounces by 32 |
| To convert ounces to milliliters | multiply the number of ounces by 30 |
| To convert milliliters to ounces | divide the number of milliliters by 30 |
| To convert milliliters to drops | multiple the number of milliliters by 15-16 |
| To convert drops to milliliters | divide the number of drops by 15-16 |
| To convert grams to milligrams | move the decimal point three spaces to the right |
| To convert milligrams to grams | move the decimal point three spaces to the left |
| To convert inches to centimeters | multiply the number of inches by 2.54 |
| To convert centimeters to inches | divide the number of centimeters by 2.54 |
| To convert inches to meters | multiply the number of inches by 0.0254 |
| To convert meters to inches | divide the number of meters by 0.0254 |
| cap | capsule |
| dr | dram |
| elix | elixir |
| g, gm, G, GM | gram |
| gr | grain |
| gtt | drops |
| kg | kilogram |
| l, L | liter |
| m2 | square meter |
| mcg | microgram |
| mEq | milliequivalent |
| mg | milligram |
| mL, ml | milliliter |
| m, min | minim |
| oz | ounce |
| pt | pint |
| qt | quart |
| SR | sustained release |
| ss | one half |
| supp | suppository |
| susp | suspension |
| T.O. | telephone order |
| T, tbsp | tablespoon |
| t, tsp | teaspoon |
| V.O. | verbal order |
| A.D., ad | right ear |
| A.S., as | left ear |
| A.U., au | both ears |
| ID | intradermal |
| IM | intramuscular |
| IV | intravenous |
| IVPB | intravenous piggyback |
| KVO | keep vein open |
| L | left |
| NGT | nasogastric tube |
| O.D., od | right eye |
| O.S., os | left eye |
| O.U., ou | both eyes |
| PO, po, os | by mouth |
| ® | right |
| SC, subc, sc, SQ, subQ | subcutaneous |
| SL, sl, subl | sublingual |
| TKO | to keep open |
| Vag | vaginal |
| AC, ac | before meals |
| ad lib | as desired |
| B.i.d., b.i.d., bid | twice a day |
| c¯ | with |
| hs | hour of sleep, bedtime |
| s¯ | without |
| NPO | nothing by mouth |
| PC, pc | after meals |
| PRN, prn | whenever necessary, as needed |
| q | every |
| aAM | every morning |
| qh | every hour |
| q2h | every 2 hours |
| q4h | every 4 hours |
| q6h | every 6 hours |
| q8h | every 8 hours |
| Q.i.d., q.i.d., qid | four time a day |
| SOS | once if necessary, if there is a need |
| STAT | immediately |
| T.i.d., t.i.d., tid | three times a day |