A drug is ordered with a loading dose of 25 mcg/kg over 10 minutes in 50 mL of D

Question

A drug is ordered with a loading dose of 25 mcg/kg over 10 minutes in 50 mL of D5W.
This is followed by a continuous infusion of 0.75 mcg/kg/min in 1000 mL of D5W/LR.
The patient weighs 176 lbs. The drug is available as 1 mg/mL in 5 mL vials. A second IV is prepared for the same patient after the first runs out. It is a continuous infusion at the same rate of 0.75 mcg/kg/min. It contains 10 mg of the drug in 1000 mL of D5W/LR. The administration set delivers 10 drops per milliliter.

How many milligrams will be administered during the 1st hr to a 176-lb patient?

         __________ mg

Explanation / Answer

1. The second IV prepared contains 10 mg in 1000ml and is infused at the rate of 0.75mcg/kg/min. To convert mcg to mg we have to divide it by 1000 as 1mg = 1000mcg. Converting the mcg into mg:

0.75 mcg ÷ 1000 = .00075 mg

2. Then we have to convert patient weight into kgs which is given in pounds = 176 lb. As 1 lb = .45 kg, we have to multiply the patients weight with .45 to get the weight in kgs:

176 x .45 = 79.2 kgs

3. By using the above values, we can calculate the drip rate in mg/kg/min:

.00075 x 79.2 = 0.0594 mg/kg/min

4. We have got already got how many mg of the drug is administered in a minute, so now we can calculate the mg administered in 1 hr by multiplying the above value by 60, as 1 hr = 60 min:

0.0594 x 60 = 3.56 mg/kg/hr.

Therefore the patient is getting 3.56 mg in a hour.

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