Dosage calculation

Prepared by
Hina Karim
Sr NES instructor

FORMULA:
DESIRED DOSE x VOLUME (or) QUANTITY
DOSE AVAILABLE

Volume is for mls/cc and Quantity for

tablets/capsules.
DD and DA must be in same units.
eg: DD= 250mg
2mcg
4ml
DA= 125mg

1mcg

2ml

EXAMPLE #1
PHYSICIAN ORDERED INJ Morphine Sulphate
6mg IV stat. Available is 15mg/ml, how many
mls will you give?
DATA:
DD = 6MG
DA = 15MG
V = 1ML
DD = DD x V

DA
D = 6 x 1

15
Answer = 0.4ml

EXAMPLE # 2
Medication order read: give syrup Largactil
1.5mg/kg/day/po every 6 hourly. Available is
50mg/2ml. Patient weight is 9.5 kg. Calculate the
mls patient will receive?
DD= DD x V
DD x wt x V
DA
DA
1.5 x 9.5 x 2
50
0.57ML
Or
Answer # 1ml

RATE Of ADMINISTRATION
There Are Two Steps In Calculating IV Or
Medicated IV Flow Rates.

FORMULA:
Total volume_
Total hours

EXAMPLE #1
Physician ordered 1000cc 5% DW to be
infused over 12 hours.
Cc/hr
1000cc
= 83.33 =
83cc/hr
12hrs

ANSWER: pt will receive 83cc 5%DW in

one hour.

Formula for calculating drops/min

Drops/ Min = cc/hr x DF = Total Volume x DF

60
Time in min

DF means Drop Factor according to the set

we use:
Regular set/macro chamber = 15gtt/ml
Pediatric/ Buretol/ micro chamber =
60gtt/ml
Blood set = 10gtt/ml

DATA
Ml/hr = 83
Regular set = 15

Drops/min = 83x15 = 20.75

60
Answer = 21drops/min

Three critical calculations

You need to perform three calculations
before administering critical care drugs:
Concentration of the drug.
Flow rate
Number of mcg needed based on patient
wt.

1. Concentration
mg/ml = mg of drug
ml of fluid
If you need to express the conc in
mcg/ml then multiply the answer by
1,000.
2. FLOW RATE = DD x 60 x wt
concentration

EXAMPLE
1. Doctor ordered dopamine infusion at the
rate of 10mcg/kg/min. Patient wt is 60kg.
Dilution is made by adding 5ml of
dopamine (200mg) in 45ml of NS or DW?
Concentration (mg/ml) = mg of drug
ml of fluid
200mg =
4mg/ml
50ml
4 x 1000 = 4000mcg

FLOW RATE
DD x 60 x wt__
Concentration
10mcg x 60 x 60
4000

9ml/hr

So if we are using micro chamber then

gtt/min?
9 x60 = 9gtt/min
60

EXAMPLE..
Doctor order to start amiodirone infusion
at 37.5mg/hr. dilution is made by adding
300mg(6ml) amio in 44ml of 5%DW.
What will be the flow rate?
1. Concentration
300mg = 50ml
x
= 1ml
Answer = 6mg/ml

Cont.
2. Flow rate..
DD x 1
CONC
37.5 x 1
6
answer = 6 ml/hr

EXAMPLE
Give Heparin 1500units in 500cc NS over
5hrs.
1. Calculate ml/hr
2. Units/hr
3. Flow rate (drops/min)

Cont.
1. ml/hr?
Total vol = 500cc
Total hrs = 5hrs
Total vol = 500 =
total hr
5

100ml/hr

Cont.
2. units/hr?
1500 units =
x units =

5hrs
1hr

Total units = 1500

Total hr
5
answer = 300 units/hr

= 300 units/hr

Cont.
3. Flow rate?
DD x DF
Times in min
100 x 15
60

= 25 gtt/min

EXAMPLE
The 10 am medication scheduled for your
patient include keflex 1.5 gm in 50ml of a
5%Dextrose solution. According to
pharmacy, this preparation should be
administered in 30min. The IV tubing on
your unit delivers 15gtt/ ml. what is the
correct rate of flow in drops/min?

DATA
Total volume = 50 ml
Drop factor = 15
Time = 30 min
FORMULA

V x DF___ = 50 x 15
Time in min
30
answer = 25 gtt/min

EXAMPLE
500cc solution of 0.9%NS with
20,000units of Heprin is infusing at
30ml/hr. The IV set delivers 15 gtt/cc. How
many units of Heprin is the patient
receiving each hour?

DATA
ml/hr = 30
Total volume = 500 cc
Total units of heprin = 20,000units
Unit/hr = ?
FORMULA
30 x 20,000 = 1200units/hr
500

Formula :
mg/mint
DD X 60
conc

Example :
1. Doctor order to start amiodarone infusion at
2mg/min, dilution is made by adding 900mg
amio in 82ml 5%DW.
Concentration :
900 =9mg/ml
100
2 X 60 =13.3ml/hr
9

Formula :
mcq/mint
DD X mint
con

Example :
Doctor order to start GTN infusion at
5mcg/mint. Dilution is made by adding two
ampules of GTN in 80ml of 0.9%normal
saline. Patient weight is 90kg
Concentration
20 =0.2mg/ml
100

0.2 mg X 1000=200mcq/ml
5X60 =1.5ml/hr
200

LETS PRACTICE
Convert the following
500mcg = _________________
1 g
= _________________
7mg
= _________________
5 ml
= _________________
120 ml = _________________
1 pint = _________________
1 L
= _________________

mg
mg
mcg
tsp
tbsp
ml
ml

Solve the following

3875 + 5725 =
________________________
275 x 5
=
________________________
675 / 42
=
_________________________

Dosage Calculation
Order states give 1000cc of 0.9%NS in 12hrs.
How many ml/hr will you infuse?
Order states give 40meq kcl in 50 ml NS over
6 hrs?
How many mls/hr will you infuse?
How many mcq kcl / hr pt will receive?
Calculate the drop/min (DF60)?

Order states give 2 pints of packed cell (each

350 ml) over 8 hrs.
How many ml/hr will you infuse?
Calculate the drops/min?

References
Curren, M.A. & Munday, D.L., (1990). Math for med:
Dosage and solution. (6th ed.). Chicago; W. B.Saunders
Company.
Brown, M& Joyce, L.M.,(1992). Drug Calculations
Process and Problems for clinical Practice. (4th ed.).
Toronto Mosby.

THANKYOU !