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Bedeer Elsherbiny

Pharmaceutical Calculations is a comprehensive course designed for pharmacists, trainee pharmacists, pharmacy students, and pharmacy technicians who seek to develop the necessary skills to accurately perform calculations in the pharmaceutical industry. This course will equip learners with the knowledge, skills, and tools required to perform calculations in a professional and accurate manner.

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Pharmaceutical Calculations is a comprehensive course designed for pharmacists, trainee pharmacists, pharmacy students, and pharmacy technicians who seek to develop the necessary skills to accurately perform calculations in the pharmaceutical industry. This course will equip learners with the knowledge, skills, and tools required to perform calculations in a professional and accurate manner.

The course will start with an introduction to basic principles of pharmaceutical calculations, including units of measure, conversion between units. Learners will then advance to more complex topics such as concentration and dilution, isotonicity, osmolarity, and IV flow rates. Additionally, the course will cover dosage calculations, half-life and some epidemiology concepts such as prevalence and number need to treat.

Throughout the course, learners will be exposed to real-world scenarios that require the application of pharmaceutical calculations. They will learn how to perform calculations accurately and how to apply the results to their work in the pharmaceutical industry. The course will also provide pharmacists a guide to pass pharmacy calculation license exams GPh

By the end of the course, learners will have developed the necessary skills to perform pharmaceutical calculations accurately and confidently. They will be able to apply these skills to their practice, whether they are working in a retail pharmacy or a hospital setting. This course will provide learners with a solid foundation in pharmaceutical calculations, enabling them to excel in their careers and provide excellent patient care.

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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Understand the basic principles of pharmaceutical calculations.
  • Apply pharmaceutical calculations to real-world scenarios.
  • Prepare students to pass the pharmaceutical calculations for license exams in canada, usa, australia and uk
  • Develop proficiency in dosage calculations.

Syllabus

Introduction
understand units of measurement, conversion of units and ways to express strength.
Units of measure and imperial system
conversion between units
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Basic Prinicples of Calculations

Calculate number of units needed to fill the prescription of capsules, liquids, spays and Insulins.

Measure amount of solvent to be added to powder for reconstitution.

Calculate amount of ingredients required to prepare a formulation.

Calculate the molarity, normality and osmolarity of solutions.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Covers concentration and dilution, isotonicity, osmolarity, and IV flow rates, which are essential for pharmacy practice
Prepares learners to pass pharmaceutical calculation license exams in Canada, USA, Australia, and UK, which is useful for professional certification
Explores epidemiology concepts such as prevalence and number needed to treat, which are relevant in clinical pharmacy and public health
Includes real-world scenarios that require the application of pharmaceutical calculations, which enhances practical skills
Teaches allegation methods, which are used to calculate the strength of solutions made by mixing different concentrations
Requires learners to understand units of measurement and conversion of units, which may require additional study for some learners

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Reviews summary

Mastering essential pharmacy calculations

According to learners, this course is a highly effective resource for mastering the essential calculations required in pharmacy. Many students report it is particularly helpful for preparing for licensing exams like NAPLEX and PEBC. Reviewers frequently highlight the clarity of the explanations and the benefit of the practice problems and quizzes provided. The inclusion of real-world scenarios is seen as a major strength, making the content practical for both students and working professionals. While the course covers a broad range of topics including dosage calculations, dilution, and IV flow rates, a few reviewers note that the pace can be fast, and a solid math foundation is beneficial. Overall, it's considered a valuable investment for anyone in the pharmaceutical field needing to build confidence and accuracy in calculations.
Examples relate directly to daily practice.
"The real-world examples made it very practical."
"The real-world scenarios are exactly what I encounter daily. Clear, concise, and practical."
"Loved this course. It really helped solidify my understanding of dosage calcs and IV flow rates. The real-world examples made it very practical."
Addresses a wide range of calculations.
"Very comprehensive look at pharma calculations."
"Covers a lot of ground."
"Solid course. The step-by-step approach to calculations is helpful... Good for students."
Quizzes reinforce understanding effectively.
"Good practice quizzes."
"The quizzes were challenging but fair and mirrored exam style questions."
"The quizzes were challenging but fair and mirrored exam style questions. Great value."
Concepts are explained clearly and effectively.
"The explanations were clear and the examples were spot on."
"The instructor explains the concepts well."
"My math skills were rusty, and this course broke down calculations into manageable steps. I feel much more confident now for my licensing exam."
Prepares learners well for licensing exams.
"It covers all the essential calculations needed for pharmacy practice and licensing exams. Highly recommend for any pharmacy student or technician."
"Useful for my upcoming exam."
"Fantastic resource for NAPLEX/PEBC prep. Covers everything I needed for the calculations section."
Pace can be fast; math background helpful.
"Some topics went a bit fast for me, but reviewing the videos helped."
"The course is decent, but assumes a certain level of math proficiency."
"Found some sections difficult to follow without prior knowledge. The content is relevant though."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Mastering Pharmaceutical Calculations with these activities:
Review Basic Algebra
Reinforce your understanding of fundamental algebraic concepts to prepare for the mathematical manipulations required in pharmaceutical calculations.
Show steps
  • Review basic algebraic equations and formulas.
  • Practice solving equations with one or more unknowns.
  • Work through word problems involving ratios and proportions.
Read 'Pharmaceutical Calculations' by Howard Ansel
Supplement your learning with a comprehensive textbook that provides detailed explanations and numerous practice problems.
Show steps
  • Obtain a copy of 'Pharmaceutical Calculations' by Howard Ansel.
  • Work through the chapters relevant to the course syllabus.
  • Solve the practice problems at the end of each chapter.
Dosage Calculation Practice
Improve your accuracy and speed by practicing dosage calculations regularly.
Show steps
  • Find online resources with dosage calculation problems.
  • Solve a set number of problems each day.
  • Check your answers and review any mistakes.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Create a Pharmaceutical Calculations Cheat Sheet
Consolidate your knowledge by creating a reference sheet with key formulas and conversion factors.
Show steps
  • Identify the most important formulas and conversion factors.
  • Organize the information in a clear and concise format.
  • Include examples of how to use each formula.
Participate in a Study Group
Collaborate with peers to solve problems and clarify concepts.
Show steps
  • Form a study group with other students.
  • Meet regularly to discuss course material.
  • Work through practice problems together.
  • Explain concepts to each other.
Review 'Remington: The Science and Practice of Pharmacy'
Expand your understanding of pharmaceutical principles with a comprehensive reference text.
Show steps
  • Obtain a copy of 'Remington: The Science and Practice of Pharmacy'.
  • Review the sections on compounding and dosage forms.
  • Relate the information to the calculations covered in the course.
Tutor Other Students
Solidify your understanding by explaining concepts to others.
Show steps
  • Offer to tutor other students in the course.
  • Prepare explanations and practice problems.
  • Answer questions and provide guidance.

Career center

Learners who complete Mastering Pharmaceutical Calculations will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Pharmacist
A pharmacist dispenses medications and provides drug information to patients and healthcare providers. This role requires a strong foundation in pharmaceutical calculations, which this course provides, covering essential topics such as concentration, dilution, and dosage calculations. Mastering these calculations is crucial for pharmacists to ensure accurate medication dispensing and patient safety. This course also prepares students to pass pharmaceutical license exams, which is a requirement to become a pharmacist. Concepts such as half-life, prevalence, and number needed to treat are also covered, which help pharmacists understand drug action and guide prescribing practices.
Pharmacy Technician
Pharmacy technicians assist pharmacists in dispensing medications and performing related tasks. A key responsibility of a pharmacy technician is accurate pharmaceutical calculations, which this course directly addresses. The course covers topics including units of measurement, conversions, reconstitution of powder, and formulations. These are skills a pharmacy technician needs to perform daily duties. This course thoroughly prepares students to handle complex calculations, ensuring they can assist pharmacists in providing safe and effective patient care. This course helps build confidence in the daily tasks of a pharmacy technician.
Compounding Pharmacist
Compounding pharmacists prepare customized medications based on individual patient needs. A compounding pharmacist requires a high degree of accuracy in pharmaceutical calculations, which this course directly addresses. The syllabus covers reconstitution of powder, formulations, and a variety of concentrations. The course also provides practice with calculations for filling prescriptions, which is essential. The course gives confidence to compounding pharmacists who must measure ingredients to prepare individualized dosages. This course will be particularly useful for aspiring compounding pharmacists.
Clinical Pharmacist
Clinical pharmacists work directly with patients and healthcare teams to optimize medication therapy. This role requires a comprehensive understanding of pharmaceutical calculations, which this course thoroughly covers. The course content, including drug dosing, half-life, and IV flow rates, is directly relevant to the work of a clinical pharmacist. This course will be particularly useful for aspiring clinical pharmacists because it covers essential calculations for understanding how drugs behave in the body, and how to provide the correct dose. Understanding concepts such as prevalence and number needed to treat, may help in assessing the efficacy of different medications.
Pharmaceutical Scientist
A pharmaceutical scientist engages in research and development of new pharmaceutical products. This role requires a strong understanding of pharmaceutical calculations and this course provides essential knowledge in areas such as molarity, normality, osmolarity, and dilutions. Pharmaceutical scientists must use these skills in the development of drug formulations and analyzing their chemical properties. This course will be particularly beneficial for prospective pharmaceutical scientists who need to analyze data and derive conclusions during experimentation, and will prepare them for the calculations needed in research.
Clinical Research Associate
Clinical research associates, or CRAs, monitor clinical trials and ensure they adhere to protocols. This role benefits from a strong understanding of drug calculations, specifically regarding dosage, concentration and dilutions. This course covers the essential calculations needed in preparing and administering doses of medications. A good understanding of concepts like half-life, prevalence, and number needed to treat are also essential for CRAs to perform their analysis. The course helps build a foundation for CRAs to better understand drug behavior and efficacy within a clinical setting.
Pharmacy Professor
A pharmacy professor educates and trains future pharmacists and pharmacy professionals. A thorough grasp of pharmaceutical calculations is a requirement for this role. This course, with its coverage of basic and advanced calculations, as well as real-world scenarios, helps a prospective pharmacy professor better prepare lesson plans and training. The course will benefit a professor who wishes to convey information clearly. A professor might also use this course when designing test questions or exam scenarios for students. Concepts covered include reconstitution of powder, and calculations related to intravenous fluids.
Medical Science Liaison
A medical science liaison, or MSL, works with healthcare providers to educate them on the safe and effective use of pharmaceutical products. This role requires a comprehensive understanding of drug calculations, particularly dosage, concentration, and dilutions. The course covers these mathematical skills, making it relevant to MSLs who communicate scientific information to healthcare professionals. This course may be useful in helping an MSL explain drug properties and mechanisms of action. The section on epidemiology may be useful in discussions about prevalence and number needed to treat.
Regulatory Affairs Specialist
A regulatory affairs specialist ensures that pharmaceutical products comply with regulations before they can be sold on the market. A deep understanding of pharmaceutical calculations, including concentrations and dilutions, is important to this role. This course will be helpful in building a strong foundation in these kinds of calculations, allowing a regulatory affairs specialist to understand the implications of data. This course may be helpful to regulatory affairs specialists who need to understand the calculations involved in preparing regulatory documents.
Formulation Scientist
Formulation scientists develop and optimize drug formulations to ensure they are safe and effective. This role involves a deep understanding of pharmaceutical calculations related to concentration, dilution, and dosage. The course provides a strong foundation in these concepts, and may be particularly useful during the development of new formulations. This course will help a formulation scientist ensure the accuracy of their work. Concepts such as molarity, normality, and osmolarity are important for this role. The course may be useful for formulation scientists.
Quality Control Analyst
Quality control analysts in the pharmaceutical industry test and analyze raw materials and finished products to ensure they meet quality standards. The need for accurate pharmaceutical calculations is important in a quality control analyst position. This course will allow prospective analysts to gain experience in calculating formulations and dilutions. The course content will be particularly useful during the preparation and analysis of samples. Understanding molarity, normality, and osmolarity is useful in this role. This course may be useful for quality control analysts.
Data Analyst
A data analyst collects and interprets data, in this case from clinical trials or pharmaceutical research. While not all of the skills are equally applicable to the role of a data analyst, this course provides an understanding of calculations in a research context. This course may be useful for a data analyst who works in the pharmaceutical industry and needs to interpret drug data. The course will help make the data clearer for a data analyst. Concepts covered such as prevalence, relative risk reduction and number needed to treat are particularly relevant here.
Medical Writer
Medical writers prepare documents, such as research papers or regulatory submissions, for the pharmaceutical industry. The calculations taught in this course will assist a medical writer during the summarization of data from trials or research. This course may be useful for medical writers who must write about data which includes complex calculation. Concepts such as prevalence, relative risk reduction and number needed to treat may need to be written about in reports, and this course may help provide context.
Biostatistician
A biostatistician applies statistical methods to biological and health data, including pharmaceutical research and clinical trials. While much of the work will be advanced level statistical analysis, this course does introduce some basic concepts which may be useful to a biostatistician. The concepts of how to calculate prevalence, relative risk reduction and number needed to treat, covered in this course, may be useful for analyzing data. This course may be useful for a biostatistician who works with data from the pharmaceutical industry.
Sales Representative
Pharmaceutical sales representatives promote and sell pharmaceutical products to healthcare professionals. Although not a primary focus this course may be useful for pharmaceutical sales representatives. Understanding basic calculation like dosage and concentration, this course may help provide context for how the drugs are used and what problems they solve. This course may be useful for a sales representative who wishes to understand product information.

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Mastering Pharmaceutical Calculations.
Standard reference for pharmaceutical calculations, widely used in pharmacy schools. It provides comprehensive coverage of all calculation types encountered in pharmacy practice. It is particularly useful for understanding the underlying principles and problem-solving strategies. This book adds depth to the course by providing numerous examples and practice problems.
This comprehensive pharmacy reference provides a broad overview of pharmaceutical sciences, including compounding and dosage forms. While not solely focused on calculations, it offers valuable context and background information. It is more valuable as additional reading to provide a broader understanding of pharmacy practice. is commonly used as a textbook at academic institutions.

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