IV Drug Administration

Drug Calculations

November 2007

Drug Calculation Assessment

SECTION 1: Units & Equivalences SECTION 2: Calculating dose as volume SECTION 3: Drug Strengths & Stated Concentrations SECTION 4: Duration of Infusion Stated rate (dose per min) & Infusion rate (mL/hr) SECTION 5: Infusion Rate Calculations

SECTION 1: Units & Equivalences

1 Kg = 1,000 g

1g=

1,000 mg

1 mg =

1,000 micrograms

1L=

1,000 mL

Converting from One Unit to Another

To convert from a larger unit to a smaller unit, multiply by 1000 or move the decimal point three places to the right To convert from a smaller unit to a larger unit, divide by 1000 or move the decimal point three places to the left

Units & Equivalences

Convert 0.25 mg into micrograms Convert 600 micrograms to mg

Answers
0.25 1000 or move decimal point three places to the RIGHT = 250 micrograms
600 1000 or move the decimal point three places to the LEFT = 0.6 mg

SECTION 2: Calculating Dose as Volume

What you WANT X what it is IN What you have GOT = the volume you want to administer

A patient is prescribed 200mg of Furosemide I.V. The ampoules available contain 250mg in 10mL. What volume containing the drug do you need to administer? Furosemide
Time

0700-0900 1200-1400

What it is IN

Dose 200mg

Route

Start Date

IV

18.05.07

End Date

1600-1800

2200-2400

Other Time

Furosemide 250mg/10mL

Signature of Doctor

P.Rescriber

What we

WANT

What we have GOT

Answer
What you WANT X what it is IN What you have GOT 200 mg 250 mg 10 mL
= 8 mL

SECTION 3: Drug Strengths & Stated Concentrations

What you HAVE (mg) CONCENTRATION (mg/mL) = How much fluid is required (Volume)

A patient is prescribed 250mg of Aciclovir I.V. Aciclovir has to be initially reconstituted with water for injection, then added to a bag of compatible infusion fluid, giving a final concentration of 5mg/mL. How much infusion fluid should be used dilute the reconstituted Aciclovir to achieve this final concentration?

Aciclovir

Time 0700-0900

1200-1400
1600-1800 2200-2400

Dose 250mg

Route

Start Date

IV

18.05.07

End Date

Other Time
Signature of Doctor Additional Comments P.Rescriber

What we

HAVE

Final Concentration 5mg/mL

CONCENTRATION

Answer
What you HAVE (mg) CONCENTRATION (mg/mL)
250mg 5mg/mL = 50 mL

A 1% (w/v) solution means that in every 100mL of solution you will find 1g of drug. Therefore, how many g of Glucose would there be in 500mL of 5% Glucose?

Glucose 5% 500ml

Answer
A 1% (w/v) solution means that in every 100mL of solution you will find 1g of drug. 100mL = 1g Therefore a 5% w/v must mean that 100mL = 5g Multiply each side by 5 500mL = 25g

1:10,000 strength means that in every 10,000ml of solution you will find 1g of Adrenaline. Therefore, how many mg of Adrenaline would there be in 10mL of 1:10,000 Adrenaline?

Answer
1:10,000 means that 1g of adrenaline is dissolved in 10,000mL. 1g = 10,000mL 1000mg = 10,000mL Divide both sides by 1000 1mg = 10mL

SECTION 4: Duration of Infusion Stated rate (dose per min) Infusion rate (mL/hr)
Stated Rate dose per min
Dose (mg) = Time Rate (mg/min)

Furosemide must be administered at a rate no faster than 4mg/minute. How many minutes would it take to give 200mg of this drug? Furosemide
Time

DOSE (mg)
Dose Route Start Date

0700-0900 1200-1400

200mg

IV

18.05.07

End Date

1600-1800 2200-2400 Other Time

Furosemide 250mg/10mL

Signature of Doctor

P.Rescriber

Additional Comments

Rate of 4mg/minute

Rate (mg/min)

Answer
Dose (mg) = Time Rate (mg/min)
200mg 4mg/min = 50 minutes

Infusion rate mL/hr

Volume (mL) = Rate (mL/min) Time (Min) X 60 = Rate (mL/Hr) * Tip if rate is in hours omit X 60

Omeprazole (Losec ) 40mg is diluted in 100mL of compatible infusion fluid. This infusion has to be given over 20 minutes. What rate should you set the infusion pump at, in ml/hr, to deliver this dose?

Omeprazole 40mg/100mL

Answer
Volume (mL) = Time (mL/hr) x 60 Rate (hr)
100ml 20 mins x 60 = 300mL/hr

Acetylcysteine (Parvolex ) 7.5g is diluted in 1000mL of compatible infusion fluid. This infusion has to be given over 16 hours. What rate should you set the infusion pump at, in ml/hr, to deliver this dose?

Acetylcysteine 7.5g/1000mL

Answer
Dose (mL) = Time (mL/hr) Rate (hr)
1000 16 = 62.5 mL/hr

SECTION 5: Infusion Rate Calculations

What you WANT x 60 (60 mins per hr) What you have GOT X what it is IN = the volume you want to administer

You are required to give a patient Glyceryl Trinitrate as a continuous I.V infusion at 25 micrograms/minute. You have prepared a 50mg in 50mL infusion. What rate should you set the infusion pump at, in ml/hr, to deliver this dose? What we
Glyceryl Trinitrate
What we
Time 07000900 12001400

have

GOT
Glyceryl Trinitrate 50mg/50mL

WANT
Dose Route Start Date

25 micrograms/ IV minute

18.05.07

End Date

16001800 22002400 Other Time

60 mins per hr

Signature of Doctor

P.Rescriber

Additional Comments

Continuous Infusion

What its IN

Answer
What you WANT x 60 (60 mins per hr) What you have GOT X what it is IN
25 micrograms x 60 = 1500 micrograms/hr 1500 1000 = 1.5 mg 1.5 mg x 50mL 50 mg = 1.5 mL/hr

Any Questions?
Assessment time