Medication Calculation Formulas

The Metric System:

Units of metric volume
1 mL = 1 cc (cubic centimetre)
1 L = 1000 mL
Units of metric weight
1 g = 1000 mg
1 mg = 1000 mcg
1 kg = 1000 g
Generic dosage calculation:
Dose required X
Dose on Hand

Quantitiy = x

Calculating Infusion Time:

Total Volume
mL/hr
Calculating mL/hr:
Total Volume (mL)
Total Time (hr)
Calculating Drops Per Minute:
total volume X drop factor
total time (min)
mL/hr X drop factor
time (60 min)
Calculating Drug Dosages & Flow Rates:
D (desired amount in dose [mcg, mg, units] / time [min or hr] X Q (quantity in IV bag)
H (what you have available in the IV bag)
= x (mL/min, mL/hr)