Drug Dosage Calculations
IM– Intramuscular
IO– Intraosseous
IV– Intravenous
IVP– Intravenous Push
ABBREVIATIONS ID – Intradermal
USED IN DRUG IN – Intranasal
PREPARATION AND
ADMINISTRATION IP – Intraperitoneal
IT – Intrathecal
IVPB – Intravenous piggyback
ROUTES
p.o – By mouth
SC / SubQ – Subcutaneous
SL – Sublingual
top. – Topical
vag. – Vaginally
Kg– kilogram
gm– gram
mg– milligram
mcg– microgram
mEq- milliequivalent
L– liter
mL– milliliter
MEASUREMENTS µg– microgram
gtt – drop
µgtt – micro drop
tbsp – tablespoon
tsp – teaspoon
mg/dL – milligrams per deciliter
Mass
Solid Conversions
mcg ← mg ← g ← kg ( x by
gr 1 = 60 mg
1,000 )
gr 15 = 1 g
mcg → mg → g → kg ( ÷ by
2.54 cm = 1 in
1,000 )
2.2 lb = 1 kg
lb ← kg ( x by 2.2 )
lb → kg ( ÷ by 2.2 )
CONVERSION Volume
Liquid Conversions mcL ← mL ← L ← kL ( x by
30 mL = 1 oz 1,000 )
1 tsp = 5 mL mcL → mL → L → kL ( ÷ by
1 standard measuring cup = 1,000 )
240 mL
Time
min ← hr ( x by 60 )
min → hr ( ÷ by 60 )
Drug Calculation Formulas
EXAMPLE:
The physician orders 1,500 mg
of calcium carbonate for the
patient. The drug is available in
250 mg tablets. How many
TABLET DOSAGES tablets should be given to the The patient is ordered to have
patient? 2 g of potassium chloride. The
drug is available in 500 mg
Desired dosage ÷ stock strength = tablets. How many tablets
number of tablets
should be given?
1,500 mg ÷ 250 mg = 6 tablets
EXAMPLE:
The physician orders 375 mg of
cefuroxime for the patient. The
drug is available in 750 mg vial.
You plan to dilute it in 10 mL of A pediatric patient recovering
CALCULATING sterile water. How much should from accidental fall is about to
MIXTURES AND you give to your patient? be given with 130 mg
SOLUTIONS paracetamol syrup. The drug is
[Desired dosage ÷ stock strength] x available in 250 mg per 5 mL
stock volume = amount of solution preparation. How much should
to be given you give to your patient?
[375 mg ÷ 750 mg] x 10 mL =
amount of solution to be given
0.5 mg x 10 mL = 5 mL
EXAMPLE:
Start venoclysis with D5 0.9
NaCl 1 L to be infused for 16
CALCULATE IV hours. How many mL of the You are going to start IV
RATE – ML PER IV fluid should you infuse per infusion with Plain Lactated
HOUR AND hour? Ringer’s Solution 1 L. By
regulating it for 11 hours, how
MINUTE Total IV volume ÷ time (hour or much fluid are you going to
minute) = mL per hour infuse per minute?
1 L ÷ 16 hours = mL per hour
[1 L x 1,000] ÷ 16 hours = mL per hour
1,000 mL ÷ 16 hours = 62.5 mL per
hour
EXAMPLE:
The physician orders to start
venoclysis with D5 0.3 NaCl 1 L
solution. The IV fluid will be
infused for 14 hours and the drop
factor of the macrodrip used is 20.
CALCULATE IV It should be regulated to how You are going to regulate D5 0.9
many drops per minute? NaCl 500 mL solution for 7
RATE – DROPS PER hours. The macrodrip used has
MINUTE [Total IV volume ÷ time (minute) ] x drop 15 drop factor. You should
factor = drops per minute
regulate the IV fluid for how
[1 L ÷ 14 hours] x 20 = drops per minute many drops per minute?
[{1 L x 1,000} ÷ {14 hours x 60} ] x 20 =
drops per minute
[1,000 mL ÷ 840 minutes] x 20 = drops
per minute
1.19 x 20 = 23 to 24 drops per minute
EXAMPLE:
You see that your patient has D5
0.9 NaCl IV infusion at 400 mL
level. It is regulated to run for 22
drops per minute using a
macrodrip set with drop factor A patient has 350 mL of Plain
CALCULATE IV 20. How many minutes are 0.9 NaCl solution as IV infusion
RATE –REMAINING remaining before you are due to regulated at 20 drops per
change the IV fluid? minute. Drop factor 10 was used
TIME OF INFUSION for the patient’s macrodrip set.
[Volume remaining (in mL) ÷ drops Considering the IV fluid level of
per minute] x drop factor = minutes the patient, for how many
remaining minutes will it run?
[400 mL ÷ 22] x 20 = minutes
remaining
18.18 x 20 = 363 minutes or 6 hours
IV Fluids and Solutions
Isotonic. Isotonic IV solutions that have the same
concentration of solutes as blood plasma.
TYPES OF IV Hypotonic. Hypotonic solutions have lesser
FLUIDS concentration of solutes than plasma.
Hypertonic. Hypertonic solutions have greater
concentration of solutes than plasma.
ISOTONIC
IV FLUIDS
HYPOTONIC
IV FLUIDS
HYEPERTONIC
IV FLUIDS
COLLOIDS
IV SOLUTION
IV SOLUTION
BOTTLES
CANNULA
TYPES
