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?
Time
Furosemide
0700-0900

1200-1400
What it is IN
Dose Route Start Date End 1600-1800
200mg IV 18.05.07 Date
2200-2400

Other Time
Furosemide
250mg/10mL
Signature of P.Rescriber
Doctor

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?
Time
Aciclovir
0700-0900

1200-1400

Dose Route Start Date End 1600-1800

250mg IV 18.05.07 Date
2200-2400

Other Time

Signature P.Rescriber
What we of Doctor
Final
HAVE Additional
Comments 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?
Time
Furosemide
0700-0900

DOSE 1200-1400
(mg)
Dose Route Start Date End 1600-1800
200mg IV 18.05.07 Date
2200-2400

Other Time Furosemide

250mg/10mL
Signature of P.Rescriber
Doctor

Additional
Comments Rate of Rate
4mg/minute
(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
Time
Glyceryl Trinitrate have
0700- GOT
What we 0900

WANT 1200-
Glyceryl Trinitrate
1400
50mg/50mL
Dose Route Start Date End 1600-
1800
25 micrograms/ IV 18.05.07 Date
minute 2200-
2400

Other
Time
60 mins
per hr Signature of Doctor P.Rescriber What
Additional Continuous its IN
Comments Infusion
 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