A quick guide to IV infusion prescriptions in Critical Care

Drug Dose and Diluent Rate Additional

(note UNITS) Instructions
Single strength – 4mg made up to 50ml with 5% Glucose
ADRENALINE
(80micrograms/ml)

Double strength - 8mg made up to 50ml with 5% Glucose 0.1 – 2

ADRENALINE
(160 micrograms/ml) mcg/Kg/min
based on IBW Via Central Line only
Quad strength - 16 mg made up to 50ml with 5% Glucose
ADRENALINE
(320 micrograms/ml)

25mg in 50ml - (NEAT)

ALFENTANIL 0.5 - 20 ml/hr
500micrograms/ml

Over 30 min
LOADING DOSE = 5mg / Kg - IBW
AMINOPHYLLINE
225 – 500mg made up to 100ml with 5% Glucose or 0.9% NaCl
max 25 mg/min
MAINTENANCE DOSE
See updated NGH policy on
AMINOPHYLLINE 500mg made up to 500ml with 0.9% NaCl or 5% Glucose. 0.3 - 0.7mg/kg/hr
Trust Intranet.
(1mg/ml)

LOADING DOSE
AMIODARONE 300mg made up to 50ml with 5% Glucose Over 60 minutes Via Central Line Only.
(6mg/ml)

MAINTENANCE DOSE
21.7ml/hr
AMIODARONE 900mg made up to 500ml with 5% Glucose Via Central Line Only
(over 23 hours)
(1.8mg/ml)

500mg in 50ml – (NEAT)

ATRACURIUM 0.27 - 1.77 mg/Kg/hr Via Central line only
(10mg/ml)

Do NOT stop suddenly. For

750micrograms made up to 50mL with 0.9%NaCl or 5% Glucose
CLONIDINE 0.5 - 2 mcg/Kg/hr higher doses discuss with
(15 micrograms/ml)
consultant.

Via Central line only.

250mg made up to 50ml with 5% Glucose or 0.9% NaCl
DOBUTAMINE 0.25 - 40 mcg/Kg/min For higher doses discuss with
(5mg/ml)
consultant.
Via Central line only.
200mg made up to 50mL with 0.9% NaCl or 5% Glucose
DOPAMINE 0.25 - 50mcg/Kg/min For higher doses discuss with
(4mg/mL)
consultant
500,000nanograms in 50ml glycine buffer
EPOPROSTENOL 0.5 - 20 ng/kg/min Via haemofiltration unit.
(10,000nanograms/ml)
500mg in 50ml – (NEAT)
ESMOLOL 25 - 200mcg/kg/min
(10mg/ml)
50mg made up to 50ml with 0.9% NaCl
FUROSEMIDE 1- 200ml/hr
(1mg/ml)
INSULIN ACTRAPID-
VARIABLE RATE 50units Actrapid made up to 50ml with 0.9% NaCl. 0.5 – 10 mls/hr Variable rate
(VRIII)
INSULIN ACTRAPID-
50units Actrapid made up to 50ml with 0.9% NaCl. 0.1unit/kg/hr Follow DKA Protocol
DKA
INSULIN ACTRAPID- Give IV over 15 - 30 Hyperkalaemia – See NGH
Dilute 10units of Actrapid in 100ml of 20% Glucose.
HYPERKALAEMIA mins Trust Policy on Intranet
ISOSORBIDE 25mg made up to 50ml with 0.9% NaCl
1 -40ml/hr
DINITRATE (0.5mg/ml) 2-20mg/hr
200mg in 40ml – (NEAT) Via Central line only
LABETALOL 3 – 24 ml/hr
(5mg/ml) 15 -120mg/hr

MAGNESIUM Give further doses as

REPLACEMENT 50ml/hour
SULPHATE appropriate.
8mmol in 100 ml of 0.9% NaCl or 5% Glucose
Arrhythmia / Asthma
MAGNESIUM
8mmol in 100 ml of 0.9% NaCl or 5% Glucose Over 20 minutes
SULPHATE
(0.08mmol/ml)
METARAMINOL 20mg made up to 40ml with 0.9% Nacl 1 - 20ml/hr Peripheral. Only as a bridge to
(0.5mg/ml) 1-10mg/hr BP control while obtaining
 central access.
50mg in 50ml – (NEAT)
MIDAZOLAM 1 - 20ml/hr
(1mg/ml) 1–20mg/hr

50mg in 50ml – (NEAT)

MORPHINE 1 - 10ml/hr Titrate to Pain/ RASS score.
(1mg/ml) 1-10mg/hr
Standard dose Central (ideally) or Peripheral.
NALOXONE 2mg made up to 500mL with 0.9% NaCl or glucose 5%. 1 - 500ml/hr Usual starting dose is 60% of
(4micrograms/ml) initial IV bolus infused over 1
Fluid restricted hour, then adjusted according
NALOXONE 10mg made up to 50mL with 0.9% NaCl or glucose 5% 0.5 - 10ml/hr to respiratory rate and level of
(200micrograms/mL) consciousness.
Single strength – 4mg made up to 50ml with 5% Glucose
NORADRENALINE
(80micrograms/ml)
0.1 – 2 Via Central Line only. For
Double strength - 8mg made up to 50ml with 5% Glucose mcg/Kg/min higher rates discuss with
NORADRENALINE
(160 micrograms/ml) Consultant
based on IBW
Quad strength - 16 mg made up to 50ml with 5% Glucose
NORADRENALINE
(320 micrograms/ml)

80mg in 100ml of 0.9% NaCl Load with 80mg IV stat prior

PANTOPRAZOLE 10ml/hr for 72 hours
(0.8mg/ml) 8mg/hr to infusion

POTASSIUM 40mmol in 100ml of 0.9% NaCl (Pre-diluted bag)

1 – 50ml/hr Via Central line only
CHLORIDE (0.4 mmol/ml) 0.5 – 20mmol/hr

500mg in 50ml – (NEAT)

0.3 – 4 mg/kg/hr
PROPOFOL (10mg/ml)

2mg made up to 40ml with 0.9% NaCl or 5% Glucose 0.025 – 0.75

REMIFENTANIL
(50mcg/ml) mcg/kg/min

VASOPRESSIN 20 units made up to 50mL with 0.9% NaCl or 5% Glucose 0.5 – 6ml/hr Via Central line only
(0.4 units/ml) 0.6 – 2.4 units/hr

Title: Intravenous Infusion Guide Created by: Dr M. Zaman, Dr N. Hames and R. Kontogonis
Critical Care Department at Northampton General Hospital Date: 27.10.16
Approved by: Critical Care Management Meeting Checked by: Dr D.Popple
Review date: August 2017 Date Checked: 31.10.16