PARENTERAL DOSAGE FORM

Calculating Drug Dosages

Munamba Patrick NC Pharmacy

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Calculate dosages for parenteral injections,
including those for special preparations such as
insulin
Calculate flow rates for infusions
Calculate the electrolytes

Munamba Patrick NC Pharmacy

Medication available in three forms:
 Prefilled syringe labeled with specific dosage
For example: meperidine (Demerol) 100 mg in 1 mL
 Single-dose ampule or multiple-dose vial labeled
with a specific dosage per volume
For example: epinephrine (Adrenalin) 1:1000 in 0.1 mL
 A vial with powder that requires a specific fluid be
added to it to obtain a specific dosage
(Reconstitution)

Munamba Patrick NC Pharmacy

A critical medication that replaces the insulin not
being produced by the patient’s pancreas
Insulin comes in a standardized measure called a
“Unit”
Smallest amounts may be given; errors are critical

Munamba Patrick NC Pharmacy

Munamba Patrick NC Pharmacy
Strengths
 U-100 (100 Units of insulin per 1 mL)
 U-500 (500 Units of insulin per 1 mL)
Preparation 5 times stronger, rarely used
Syringe
 Calibrated in Units also
 Tuberculin syringe used in emergency
Minims used; 16 minims = 1 mL

Munamba Patrick NC Pharmacy

Munamba Patrick NC Pharmacy
Munamba Patrick NC Pharmacy
Medications administered into the vein
 IV push
 IV hanging by gravity (flow rate formula)
 IV pump (mL/min or hr)

Munamba Patrick NC Pharmacy

Gtts/min =
Volume to be administered × gtt factor
Time in minutes

Drop factor of tubing:

Macrodrip = 10, 15, or 20 gtt/mL
Microdrip = 60 gtt/mL

Munamba Patrick NC Pharmacy

10. A solution contains 1.25 mg of a drug per
milliliter . At what rate should the solution be
infused (drops/min) i f the drug is to be
administered at a rate of 80mg/hr? (1 mL = 30
drops)
(A) 64 drops/min
(B) 1.06 drops/min
(C) 32 drops/min
(D) 20 drops/min

Munamba Patrick NC Pharmacy 07/18/19

 The recommended maintenance dose of
aminophyl line for children is 1.0 mg/kg/hr by inject
ion. If 10 mL of a 25-mg/mL solut ion of aminophyl
line is added to a 100-mL bot t le for dextrose, what
should be the rate of delivery in mL/hr for a 18 kg
child?
(A) 2.30 mL/hr
(B) 8.00 mL/hr
(C) 18.9 mL/hr
(D) 18.2 mL/hr

Munamba Patrick NC Pharmacy 07/18/19

18. The formula for Ringer 's solution follows. How
much sodium chloride is needed to make 120 mL?
Rx sodium chloride 8.60 g
potassium chloride 0.30 g
calcium chloride 0.33 g
water for injection, qs ad 1000 mL
(A) 120 g
(B) 1.03 g
(C) 0.12 g
(D) 103 g

Munamba Patrick NC Pharmacy 07/18/19

20. How many milliliters of a 0.9% aqueous solution can
be made f rom 20.0 g of sodium chloride?
(A) 2222 mL
(B) 100 mL
(C) 222 mL
(D) 122 mL

Munamba Patrick NC Pharmacy 07/18/19