Name:

Drug Calculations Workbook

Contents

1 Using your workbook

2 Drug doses: Basic formula

12 Drug strength or concentration

18 Infusion calculations

26 Formula summary sheet

28 Answers to self-mark exercises

29 Answers to asterisked questions


Using your workbook
You can use this booklet at any time to check you know
how to do each type of calculation required for the
assessment and to practice beforehand.
Each section gives a formula to show how the calculation
can be done. You may already know the method or
formula in a slightly different format, or wording and feel
quite confident about using it. If so, don’t try to re-learn
anything. Just jump to the examples of each type of
calculation and work through them with your own method
instead. As long as your answers match those listed, your
own method will be absolutely fine and you should stay
with it, rather than trying to learn something new.
There are several sets of questions for you to test yourself.
In each case the first few have answers you can check
at the back of the booklet. Get into the habit of checking
after you do each question. If you get a different answer,
check back through your calculation and try to spot where
USING YOUR WORKBOOK
you went wrong, so you can adjust your process to be
right in the future.
You might talk to colleagues to compare methods too.
This is all useful learning as long as you adapt your
thinking as a result. If you really can’t see your error you
should talk to your Drug Calculations Adviser to help
correct your method, then practice a little more on
your own.
The last question of each set is asterisked. There are
no answers listed for this. You should collect your set of
answers to these questions and enter on the final page
of this workbook, detach it and hand to your Drugs
Calculations Adviser to be marked and fedback to you.
Once these are completed and checked you will be given
a practice assessment as the final stage of preparation
before you take your ‘live’ assessment. The pass mark for
practice and live assessments is 100%.
1
DRUG DOSES: BASIC FORMULA

Drug doses: Basic formula

What you NEED

x What volume of SOLUTION it’s in
What you HAVE

You can use this in many situations when drugs are in solution. For instance, when you are:

• finding what volume of solution to draw up for injection

• finding the volume to be given IV

• finding the volume of stock mixture to give

You can adapt it to find number of same-strength tablets too – just lose the last part to give:

What you NEED

What you HAVE

2
 DRUG DOSES: BASIC FORMULA
Here are some worked examples to show how to use the formula – watch what goes where:

1 2
You have pethidine injection 100mg in 2ml. A patient is to receive a very slow IV injection of
A patient is prescribed 70mg. aminophylline 350mg.
How much do you draw up? The ampoules available contain 250mg in 10ml.
What volume (in ml) should you draw up?

in 2ml in 10ml
WE NEED of solution WE NEED of solution
70mg 350mg
What you NEED What you NEED
x What volume of SOLUTION it’s in x What volume of SOLUTION it’s in
What you HAVE What you HAVE

WE HAVE WE HAVE
100mg 250mg

So we calculate: 70 ÷ 100 × 2 = 1.4 (check on your So we calculate: 350 ÷ 250 × 10 = 14 (check on

calculator), so you must draw up 1.4ml. your calculator), so you must draw up 14ml.

3
DRUG DOSES: BASIC FORMULA

Further examples:

3 4
You need to give a patient 125micrograms of 500mg is prescribed.
digoxin orally. Tablets are 200mg each.
Stock on hand contains 50micrograms/ml. How many tablets will you give?
How much do you need to draw up?

in 1ml
WE NEED of solution WE NEED
125mcg 500mg
What you NEED What you NEED
x What volume of SOLUTION it’s in
What you HAVE What you HAVE

WE HAVE WE HAVE
50mcg 200mg

So we calculate: 125 ÷ 50 × 1 = 2.5 (check on your So we calculate: 500 ÷ 200 = 2.5 (check on your
calculator), so you must draw up 2.5ml. calculator), so you must give 2.5 tablets
(ie two and a half).

4
 DRUG DOSES: BASIC FORMULA
Now try these yourself (answers at the back of the booklet, except those asterisked):

1. 60mg of a pain relieving drug is prescribed.

Stock ampoules contain 100mg in 2mls.
What volume is required?

2. 750mg of an antibiotic is required.

Stock tablets are 250mg.
How many tablets should be given?

3. You need to give a patient 125micrograms of digoxin orally.

You have digoxin elixir 50micrograms/ml with a dropper pipette.
How much do you need to draw up?

4. Dexamethasone 6mg is ordered.

The stock strength is 8mg per 2ml ampoule.
How many ml will you give?

* A patient is prescribed 2,000mg of antibiotic.

5.
Stock strength is 10mg per 2ml ampoule.
How much will you give?

5
DRUG DOSES: BASIC FORMULA

But what if the units don’t match?

The process only works when all units (mass, volume,
concentration etc) all match. So always check before you
begin the formula.
If there are varying units – for example mg and
micrograms, or litres and millilitres - don’t panic; you just
have to convert them first so they match.
It’s best to convert everything to the SMALLEST unit, then
you avoid having to use many decimals.
Here are some worked examples.
1
A patient is to receive 2mg of a drug during the day.
The stock available contains 800mcg per 10ml.
What volume should the patient receive during
the day?
The units don’t match. The smallest is
microgrammes (mcg), so change 2mg to
microgrammes to match.
2mg = 2 x 1,000mcg = 2,000mcg is what we need

in 10ml
WE NEED of solution
2000mcg
What you NEED
x What volume of SOLUTION it’s in
What you HAVE

WE HAVE
800mcg

So we calculate: 2000 ÷ 800 × 10 = 25 (check on

your calculator). They need 25ml during the day.

6
 DRUG DOSES: BASIC FORMULA
2 Now try these yourself (answers at the back of the booklet,
except those asterisked):
What volume of 2.5mg per 5ml solution must be
given to a patient prescribed 625micrograms? 1. A patient is prescribed 0.2mg of Naloxone.
The stock on hand is 400microgram per 1ml ampoule.
How many ml should you give?
First match the units. 2.5mg is 2,500
microgrammes, so this is what we HAVE in solution. 2. A patient is prescribed 2g of flucloxacillin to be given
orally but the drug is only available in 500mg capsules.
in 5ml
How many capsules do you give?
WE NEED of solution
625mcg 3. A patient is prescribed 1,500mg benzylpenicillin.
What you NEED
x What volume of SOLUTION it’s in The stock on hand is 1.2g in 10ml.
What you HAVE How many mls should you give?

WE HAVE 4. * A patient is prescribed 800mg of vancomycin.

2500mcg Stock on hand is 1g in 5ml.
How many mls should you give?
So we calculate: 625 ÷ 2500 x 5 = 1.25 (check on
your calculator), so we give 1.25ml.

7
DRUG DOSES: BASIC FORMULA

What about when the dose depends on weight or surface area?

You can still use the same process, but there’s one extra step to add before you can start. This is a simple multiplication to find the total
dose needed. You often find this kind of calculation in paediatrics and chemotherapy, but it occurs in many other situations too, so you
will need to know how to handle this type, regardless of your work setting.

Have a look at these examples:

1 2
A 50kg patient is prescribed a drug at a dose of A patient is prescribed a dose of 200mg/m2.
0.5mg/kg. Her body surface area is 1.8m2.
It comes as 250mg in 10ml solution. The stock contains 100mg in 2ml.
What volume should you give? How much should be given?
Find total dose first - just multiply dose by weight: Find total dose: multiply dose by surface area:
0.5 x 50 = 25mg is the amount needed. Now use 200 x 1.8 = 360mg is the amount needed.
this in the usual formula. Now put these figures into the usual formula.
in 10ml in 2ml
WE NEED of solution WE NEED of solution
25mg 360mg
What you NEED What you NEED
x What volume of SOLUTION it’s in x What volume of SOLUTION it’s in
What you HAVE What you HAVE

WE HAVE WE HAVE
250mg 100mg

So we calculate: 25 ÷ 250 × 10 = 1 (check on your So we calculate: 360 ÷ 100 x 2 = 7.2 (check on your
calculator) so you will give 1ml. calculator), so you will give 7.2ml.
8

3
You need to give an 18kg patient at a dose of
2mg/kg of a drug in suspension.
The stock suspension contains 1,800mcg in 5ml.
What volume should you give?
The units do not match, so convert everything
to the smallest (micrograms) first. We will give
suspension as 2,000micrograms/kg (because 1mg
= 1,000micrograms), then continue as before:
Total dose = dose x weight = 2000 x 18 = 36,000
mcg is the amount needed.
WE
NEED of solution
36000
mcg What you NEED
x What volume of SOLUTION it’s in
What you HAVE
WE HAVE
1800mcg
DRUG DOSES: BASIC FORMULA
Now try these yourself (answers at the back of the booklet,
except those asterisked):
1. A patient is prescribed a drug at a dose of 2.5mg/kg.
The patient weighs 55kg.
The drug comes as 200mg in 10ml solution.
How many mls should be given?
2. A 60kg patient requires a dose of 500micrograms/kg.
The drug comes as 50mg in 10ml solution.
How many mls are required?
3. A patient requires 300mg/m2 of a drug.
His body surface area is 1.9m2.
in 5ml The stock is 50mg in 5ml.
How many ml should be given?
* The dose required is 600micrograms/m2.
4.
How many ml of 2mg per 100ml solution should be
administered for a patient with surface area 1.7m2?

So we calculate: 36000 ÷ 1800 × 5 = 100 (check on

your calculator) so you will give 100ml.
9
DRUG DOSES: BASIC FORMULA

What about divided doses? 1

Stay with the usual formula but divide the total by the A patient has been prescribed a total daily dose of
number of doses specified. 16mg of a drug, to be administered 4 times per day.
Pharmacy has given you a solution containing 8mg in
total dose 4ml. How many ml will you administer at each dose?
Each dose =
number of doses Find the mg in each dose first. We split the 16mg
total dose into 4 separate doses:
total doses - 16
Here are some examples: Each dose = = 4mg
number of doses - 4

Now go back to the basic formula, using 4mg as the

dose you need:
in 4ml
WE NEED of solution
4mg
What you NEED
x What volume of SOLUTION it’s in
What you HAVE
WE HAVE
8mg

So we calculate: 4 ÷ 8 × 4 = 2 (check on your

calculator) so we give 2ml in each dose.
10
 DRUG DOSES: BASIC FORMULA
Now try these yourself (answers at the back of the booklet,
2 except those asterisked):
Gentamycin is prescribed at 7mg/kg daily.
1. 4,000mg of paracetamol is prescribed to be given in four
It is to be given in divided doses, three per day.
divided doses. Each tablet contains 500mg. How many
How many mg should a patient weighing 81kg be
tablets should be given in each dose?
given in each dose?
2. 2,000mg of amoxicillin is required in four divided doses.
The dosage is based on weight.
How many mg should be given in each dose?
Find the total dose needed first:
3. 1.2g of metronidazole is prescribed to be given over
Total dose = dose x weight = 7 x 81 = 567mg. three divided doses. Each tablet contains 200mg.
Which we split into 3 separate doses: How many tablets should be given in each dose?

total dose 4. Naproxen is prescribed at 10mg/kg daily divided over

567mg three doses per day. How many mg should a patient
total dose
Each dose = weighing 75kg be given:
number of doses
a) in total?
3 b) per dose?
doses c) if each tablet is 250mg, how many tablets should be
given per dose?
So each dose is calculated by 567 ÷ 3 = 189mg.
* Ciclosporin is prescribed at 5mg/kg in two divided
5.
doses. How many mg should a patient weighing 68kg
be given per dose?

11
DRUG STRENGTH OR CONCENTRATION

Drug strength or concentration 1

There are several ways to describe how strong a medicine A 5ml spoonful of erythromycin contains 200mg of
is, we will focus on two of them, mg/ml and percentage the drug.
concentrations.
Find its concentration in mg/ml.
Concentrations in mg/ml: Finding drug strength

Mg/ml measurement is used when a drug is in solution. The 200mg

present
concentration says how much of the drug (milligrams) are in
each ml of liquid. It is a simple divide sum: Number of mg present
Concentration =
Number of ml they are contained in
Number of mg present
Concentration = contained
Number of ml they are contained in in
5ml

You can look at the units of concentration to remind you,

because ‘mg/ml’ literally means ‘mg divided by ml’
Concentration is calculated: 200 ÷ 5 = 40mg/ml
If the amount of drug present is in other units, you just convert
(check on your calculator).
it to mg first.

Look at these examples:

12
 DRUG STRENGTH OR CONCENTRATION
2 Now find the concentration in each case below. Give all your
answers in mg/ml (answers at the back of the booklet, except
What is the concentration, in mg/ml of fentanyl if
those asterisked):
there are 250micrograms in 25ml of solution?

You must answer in mg/ml, so first convert

1. Gentamicin, 80mg in 2ml
250micrograms to mg (divide by 1,000).

2. Glucose, 5g in 100ml
0.25mg
present
3. Lidocaine, 900micrograms in 500ml
Number of mg present
Concentration =
Number of ml they are contained in 4. * Potassium chloride, 200micrograms in 100ml
contained
in
25ml

Concentration is calculated: 0.25 ÷ 25 = 0.01 mg/ml

(check on your calculator).

13
DRUG STRENGTH OR CONCENTRATION

Finding total dose, from drug concentration

1
To check how much of a drug has been taken we reverse Stock solution of Amoxicillin contains 200mg in 10ml.
this process – multiply is the reverse of divide so we do a
How many milligrams are in 35ml of the solution?
multiplication of concentration and volume taken:
200mg
present
Amount of volume of
= concentration × Number of mg present
drug taken liquid taken
Concentration =
Number of ml they are contained in

Just make sure you check units are consistent throughout. contained
in
10ml
Look at these examples:

Concentration is calculated: 200 ÷ 10 = 20mg/ml.

Now find the amount of drug in 35ml, using the
multiply sum:
concentration
20mg/ml

Amount of volume of
= concentration × volume
drug taken liquid taken
35ml

Amount of drug is calculated: 20 x 35 = 700mg.

14
 DRUG STRENGTH OR CONCENTRATION
2
During a day a patient receives three 1ml bolus doses Now try these yourself (answers at the back of the booklet,
except those asterisked):
of a drug from stock containing 300micrograms in
30ml. How many mg of the drug is this in total?
1. A patient has been given 96ml of frusemide 5mg/10ml.
How many mg of frusemide has been administered?
0.3mg
present
Number of mg present
2. A patient has been administered 6.5ml of fentanyl
Concentration = 50mcg/ml. How many mcg were given?
Number of ml they are contained in
contained
in 3. A patient was administered 6 x 50mls of paracetamol
30ml
infusion 10mg/ml over 24 hours. How many g of
Concentration is calculated: 0.3 ÷ 30 = 0.01mg/ml. paracetamol were given in total?

Now find the amount of drug in each bolus, using

4. A patient was administered 8 x 50mls of paracetamol
the multiply sum: infusion 10mg/ml in four divided doses. How many mg
concentration of paracetamol were given in each dose?
0.01mg/ml

Amount of volume of * A patient was given three doses 250ml of cefuroxime

5.
= concentration ×
drug per bolus liquid taken volume 3mg/ml over 24 hours. How many g of cefuroxime were
1ml given in total?
Amount of drug per bolus is calculated:
0.01 x 1 = 0.01mg. So the three bolus doses give
three times this - a total of 0.03mg.
15
DRUG STRENGTH OR CONCENTRATION

Percentage concentrations
1
There are several percentage formats you might have to deal A patient received 2 litres of 5% dextrose (w/v). How many
with – this table gives a summary. Remember that anything with mg of dextrose have they had?
a percentage in it will involve the figure of 100 somewhere.
Find the concentration in mg/ml first:
Units used Stands for Tells us Used when
5000*mg
present

percentage ‘weight in number of grams a solid is dissolved Number of mg present

concentration, w/v volume’ dissolved 100ml in a liquid Concentration =
Number of ml they are contained in
percentage ‘weight in number of grams a solid is mixed
concentration, w/w weight’ dissolved 100g with another contained
solid eg creams, in
ointments 100ml
percentage ‘volume in number of ml a liquid is mixed
concentration, v/v volume’ dissolved 100ml with another liquid Calculate the concentration: 5000 ÷ 100 = 50mg/ml and
then the multiplying system is used:

The most common type is w/v, so we will focus on this kind of

concentration
calculation. The method is just as for mg/ml type as long as you 50mg/ml
convert % concentration into mg/ml before you start.
Amount of volume of
= concentration × volume
For example 4% converts to 4g per 100ml = 4,000mg ÷ 100ml drug taken liquid taken
2000**ml
= 40mg/ml.

Check these examples to see how the calculation works: Amount of dextrose is: 50 x 2000 = 100,000mg or 100g.

16 * 5% means 5g per 100ml ** 2 litres = 2,000ml

 DRUG STRENGTH OR CONCENTRATION
2
Each gramme of dextrose gives 16KJ of energy. If a patient Now try these yourself (answers at the back of the booklet,
is given 1 litre of 10% dextrose how many KJ have they except those asterisked):
received?
1. How many grams of sodium bicarbonate are in 200ml of
Tip: Once you know how many grams, you can just
sodium bicarbonate 8% w/v?
multiply by 16 to get KJ amount.
10*g
Find the concentration in mg/ml first: present 2. How many grams of gluconate are in 40ml of gluconate
Number of g present 10% w/v?
Concentration =
Number of ml they are contained in
contained
3. How many grams of potassium are in a litre infusion of
in potassium 0.3% w/v?
100ml

Once the concentration is calculated: 10 ÷ 100 = 0.1mg/ml, * How many grams of gluconate are contained in 60ml of
4.
the multiplying system is used: gluconate 8% w/v?
concentration
0.1mg/ml

Amount of volume of
= concentration ×
drug taken liquid taken volume
1000**ml

Amount of dextrose is: 0.1 x 1000 = 100mg or 0.1g.

Now we can find the KJ received = 100 x 16 = 1,600KJ which
equals 16KJ per gram.
* 10% means 10g per 100ml ** 1 litre = 1,000ml 17
INFUSION CALCULATIONS

Infusion calculations

You will need to use two types of infusion rate calculations:

• Millilitres per hour (ml/hour) used when the • Drops per minute (drops/min) is used when the
infusion has to be accurately controlled or is in a infusion is given under gravity and depends on
small volume using a volumetric pump. the giving set you are using - 20 drops/ml is the
standard giving set.

The two basic formulae are shown below - choose the one which matches the
volume units you are asked to use (ml or drops).

Units used Millilitres per hour Drops per minute

volume in ml volume in ml
Infusion rate rate = rate = x drops per ml
hours hours x 60

18
 INFUSION CALCULATIONS
Check these examples of calculating the infusion rate:

1 2
What is the infusion rate required if What infusion rate is required to give Don’t be fooled by
500ml of IV 5% Glucose is to run over 200ml of sodium chloride 0.9% over 2 extraneous information
12 hours? hours using a 20 drops/ml giving set? Sometimes extra information
Because volume is given in ml we use A drops/ml giving set is being used so we is included which you don’t
need. In Example 1 the 5%
the ml/hour formula: use the drops/minute formula:
concentration figure is not
500ml
volume used at all, neither is the
200ml 0.9% concentration needed
volume in ml volume
Infusion rate = in Example 2. Scan the
hours volume in ml
Infusion rate = x drops per ml question and pick out only
12 hours x 60
the important components
hours 20
2 drops for the formula, which are the
hours per ml
volume (in ml) and the time
So we calculate: 500 ÷ 12 = 41.66 (in hours) over which it is to
which is rounded up to the nearest ml to So we calculate: 200 ÷ (2 x 60) x 20 = be infused.
give an infusion rate of 42ml/hour. 33.33 which is rounded to 33 drops/
minute.

19
INFUSION CALCULATIONS

What if the time isn’t in hours for a

ml/hour infusion?
Convert the time in minutes to a fraction of an
hour – just divide the number of minutes by
60 before you start.
Check the following example:
What is the infusion rate required if 100ml
of 0.9% sodium chloride is to run over 45
minutes?
Because volume is given in ml we use
the ml/hour formula:
45 minutes = 0.75 hours (45 ÷ 60)

100ml
volume
volume in ml
Infusion rate =
hours
0.75
hours

So we calculate: 100 ÷ 0.75 = 133.33

which is rounded up to the nearest ml to
give an infusion rate of 133ml/hour.

20
 INFUSION CALCULATIONS
Now try these yourself (answers at the back of the booklet, except those asterisked):

1. At how many mls per hour should the IV infusion pump be set to
deliver 500ml of gelofusine over 2 hours?

2. A unit of blood of volume 380ml is to run over 4 hours.

Calculate the drip rate in ml/hour.

3. Find the infusion rate in ml/hr if 80ml of intravenous fluid is to be

infused in 50 minutes.

4. 800ml of sodium chloride 0.9% is to run over 8 hours.

Calculate the drip rate in drops mls per minute using a
standard giving set.

5. Find the drops per minute rate for 1 litre of IV fluid over 8 hours
using a 20 drops/ml giving set.

6. * Using a standard 20 drops/ml set, find the infusion rate in drops

per minute to deliver 60ml of fluid over 30 minutes.

21
INFUSION CALCULATIONS

What if I have to find the infusion time?

You do this by dividing the volume required by the flow rate set. In the formula for infusion rate on page 18, just
swap over the hours and the rate in the last pair of formulae to get:

Units used Millilitres per hour Drops per minute

volume in ml volume in ml
Infusion time hours = hours = x drops per ml
rate rate x 60

Here are some examples:

1 2
How long should a 1 litre infusion of 5% A patient is to receive 300mg of a drug at 15ml/hour. How long will
glucose take at a rate of 125ml/hour? this take if the stock contains 400mg in 500ml of saline?
Use the ml/hour version of the formula, First use the basic dose equation to find how many ml are required.
converting 1 litre to 1,000ml before starting:
WE NEED
300mg in 500ml
1000ml What you NEED of solution
volume x What volume of SOLUTION it’s in
volume in ml What you HAVE
hours = WE HAVE
rate in ml per hour 400mg
125
ml/hour
So we calculate: 300 ÷ 400 x 500 = 375ml are required.
So we calculate: 1000 ÷ 125 = 8 hours. Now use the ml/hour formula to find the time:
So we calculate: 375 ÷ 15 = 25 hours.
22
 INFUSION CALCULATIONS
Now try these yourself (answers at the back of the booklet,
3 except those asterisked):
A patient is to receive 1.4 litres of fluid IV. The infusion
1. A patient is to receive 3 litres of saline at a rate of 250mls
pump is set at 50ml/hr. After 12 hours the rate is
per hour. How many hours will this take to complete?
increased to 80ml/hr. What is the total running time?
If the rate changes during infusion we split the scenario into 2. A patient is to be given 1 litre of Hartmann’s at a rate of
two separate stages. 350 mls/hour. How long will this take to complete, to
the nearest minute?
First, find out how much of the fluid has been used up in the
first 12 hours:
3. A patient is to receive 80mg of gentamicin which comes
50ml/hour literally means 50ml are given every hour so in a concentration of 2mg/5ml.
in 12 hours, 600ml (12 x 50) have been given. a) How many mls of the medicine must be given to
provide 80mg?
That means another 800ml are still to be given (because
b) The medicine is administered 40 drops per minute
1.4L – 600ml = 800ml). (20 drops = 1ml). How many minutes will this take
Now use the time formula to see how long this will take, at the to complete?
new flow rate of 80ml/hr:
4. A patient is to receive 3 litres of fluid IV. The infusion
So we calculate: 800ml pump is set at 75ml/hr. After 12 hours the rate is
volume
800 ÷ 80 = 10 volume in ml increased to 100ml/hr. What is the total running time?
hours and add hours =
rate in ml per hour * A patient is to receive 2.5 litres of fluid IV. The infusion
5.
these two times
80 pump is set at 50ml/hr. After 3 hours the rate is
together: ml/hour
increased to 200ml/hr. What is the total running time?
Total time = 12
hours + 10 hours = 22 hours.
23
INFUSION CALCULATIONS

What if the infusion is dependent on weight or surface area?

You can apply the same process as in the

Drug doses: Basic formula section when A 60kg patient is prescribed an infusion at a dose of 0.5mg/
calculating drug doses - calculating the kg/hour. The injection comes in 200mg in 10ml ampoules.
hourly dose to begin with, then finding How much is required if the infusion is to run for 12 hours?
the total dose required for the time
period ordered. Find the dose per hour needed for the patient weight
(multiply weight by dose)
For example:
60 x 0.5 = 30mg/hour needed

Find total dose needed for the running time

(multiply by the number of hours)
30 x 12 = 360mg needed in total

(If you prefer you can do this all in one step instead:
weight x dose x hours = 60 x 0.5 x 12 = 360mg)
in 10ml
of solution
WE NEED
360mg What you NEED
x What volume of SOLUTION it’s in
What you HAVE
WE HAVE
200mg

So we calculate: 360 ÷ 200 × 10 = 18 (check on your

calculator), so you will require 18ml of the drug.
24
 INFUSION CALCULATIONS
Now try these yourself (answers at the back of the booklet, except those asterisked):

1. An infusion of co-trimoxazole is required for a patient weighing 68kg

at a dose of 4mg/kg/hour, given in four divided doses every 6 hours.
Co-trimoxazole is on hand in 5ml ampoules at a concentration of
96mg/ml.
a. What volume of co-trimoxazole do you need for a 24
hour infusion?
b. How many ampoules do you need for each dose?

2. A 56kg woman is prescribed an infusion of aminophylline at 0.7mg/

kg/hour. Aminophylline injection is in stock of 240mg in 10ml. If the
infusion is to run for 10 hours how much is required?

3. * A dose of trimethoprim suspension is ordered, at a dose of 5mg/kg,

for an 18.45kg child. Stock of trimethoprim is available in suspension
50mg on 5ml.
a. What dose do you need in total?
b. How much suspension should you give?

25
 Formula summary sheet
FORMULA SUMMARIES

Dosage:
Volume
What you NEED
Volume required = x What volume of SOLUTION it’s in
What you HAVE

Tablets
What you NEED
Number of tablets =
What you HAVE

Divided dose
total dose
Each dose =
number of doses

Drug concentrations:
Number of mg present
Concentration =
Number of ml they are contained in

Amount of drug taken = concentration x volume of liquid taken

26
Formula summary sheet (continued)

FORMULA SUMMARIES
Infusions:

Units used Millilitres per hour Drops per minute

volume in ml volume in ml
Infusion rate rate = rate = x drops per ml
hours hours x 60

volume in ml volume in ml
Infusion time hours = hours = x drops per ml
rate rate x 60

27
SELF-MARK ANSWERS

Answers to self-mark exercises

Page 5 Page 11 Page 15 Page 23
1. 1.2ml 1. 2 tablets 1. 48mg 1. 12 hrs
2. 3 2. 500mg 2. 325mcg 2. 2hrs 51mins
3. 2.5ml 3. 2 tablets 3. 3g 3a. 200ml
4. 1.5ml 4a. 750mg 4. 1,000mg b. 100 mins
b. 250mg 4. 33 hrs
Page 7 c. 1 tablet Page 17
1. 0.5ml 1. 16g Page 25
2. 4 capsules Page 13 2. 4g 1a. 68ml
3. 12.5ml 1. 40mg/ml 3. 3g b. 3.4 (or 4 whole
2. 50mg/ml amps)
Page 9 3. 0.0018mg/ml Page 21 2. 16.3ml
1. 6.875ml 1. 250ml/hr
2. 6ml 2. 95ml/hr
3. 57ml 3. 96ml/hr
4. 1.67ml/min
5. 42 drops/min

28
 ASTERISKED QUESTION ANSWERS
Name:

Answers to asterisked questions

Write in your final answers and pass to your manager for marking.

Page 5 Page 11 Page 17 Page 25

5. 5. 4. 3a

3b

Page 7 Page 13 Page 21

4. 4. 6.

Page 9 Page 15 Page 23

4. 5. 5

10 29
CL-3783-000-R Issue date: Sept 2015 Review date: Sept 2018 Confidential