Drug Calculations: Worked solutions

Answers are listed on the left and how this was arrived at is shown on the right. Medical Maths 1. How many mg of lidocaine is in 5ml of a lidocaine 2% solution? 0.1g 2% solution = 2g of lidocaine in 100ml = 0.2g in 10ml = 0.1g in 5ml

2. Calculate the amount of adrenalin in 3ml of a 1 in 10000 injection. 0.3mg or 300micrograms 1 in 10000 = 1g adrenalin in 10 000ml = 1000mg in 10000ml = 1mg in 10ml = 0.1mg in 1ml = 100micrograms in 1 ml = 0.3mg in 3 ml = 300micrograms in 3ml

3. How much glucose is in a 25ml amp of 50% glucose? 12.5g 50% glucose = 50g glucose in 100ml = 25g in 50ml = 12.5g in 25ml

4. Sodium Chloride Intravenous Solution (0.9%) is given to a patient & 600ml was administered. Calculate the amount of sodium given. 5.4g 0.9% sodium = 0.9g in 100ml = 5.4g in 600ml

5. How much bicarbonate is in 250ml of Sodium bicarbonate 1.26%? 3.15g 1.26% bicarbonate = 1.26g in 100ml = 3.15g in 250ml

6. Drug A is available in 250mg/10ml vials. The patient needs a dose of 10mg IV. Calculate the volume required. 250mg in 10ml 0.4ml = 10mg in xml Algebra solve for x: 10 x 10 250 = 0.4ml

7. Morphine solution is available in a concentration of 50mg in 1000mls.Want to give patient infusion of 1mg/hr. What infusion rate will you set in ml per hour? 50mg in 1000ml = 1mg in 20ml = Infusion rate is 20ml per hour 8. Chlorpromazine injection is presented in a 1ml ampoule in a concentration of 50mg/ml. What volume contains 30mg? 50mg in 1ml 0.6ml 30mg in xml Algebra solve for x: 1 x 30 50 = 0.6ml 9. Morphine 50mg/ml is the same as 50mgs of morphine in 1ml of solution. State the concentration for the morphine solution and determine which of the solutions listed below is identical: 100mg in 2ml; 500mgs in 10ml; 5gms in 100ml Concentration: g per 100ml 50mg in 1ml = 5000mg in 100ml = 5g in 100ml = 5% Equivalence: 100mg in 2ml = 50mg in 1ml = as above = 5% 500mg in 10ml = 5000g in 100ml = as above = 5% 5g in 100ml = as above = 5%

Infusion rate is 20ml per hour

5% All others also 5%

10. An adult weighs 66kg. The dose of drug B is 25mg/kg body weight. What is the final dose? 1.65g 25 x 66 = 1650mg = 1.65g

11. A child weighs 35kg. The dose of drug C is specified as 50mg/kg/24 hours in three divided doses. What amount of drug should be administered? 583.3mg per dose 50 x 35 = 1751mg in 24 hours in 3 divided doses = 583.3mg per dose

12. The dose of drug D is 25mg per m2. A child has a body surface area of 1.4 m2. What is the correct dose of drug D for this child? 35mg 25 x1.4 = 35mg

13. You have a syrup that contains 250mg in 5 ml. What volume contains 150mg? 250mg in 5 ml 150mg in xml 3ml Algebra solve for x: 5 x 150 250 = 3ml 14. The dose of Drug H for an adult is 25mg. Child C is 10 years old and requires 60% of the adult dose. What is the correct dose of Drug H for child C? Drug H comes in syrup that contains 10mg in 1ml. What is the dose of Drug H in millilitres for child C? Dose: 15mg Syrup: 10mg in 1ml 1.5ml 15mg in xml Algebra solve for x: 1 x 15 10 = 1.5ml BNF calculations 1. A patient is on 60mg oral morphine every 4hours and need to be changed to diamorphine injection. What is the equivalent dose? 20mg IM 4hourly OR 120mg SC infusion over 24hours BNF: prescribing in palliative care table of equivalent doses 25mg x 60% =15mg

2. A child of 3 years needs to be treated for meningitis with cefuroxime. Calculate the correct dose and decide on the treatment plan. Cefuroxime dose in children for treatment of meningitis: For three days: IV 200 240mg/ kg daily in 3 4 divided doses IV 750 900mg qid Reduced to 1000mg/kg after 3 days or on clinical OR improvement 900mg 1.2g tds Weight of a 3yr old: back of BNF = 15kg Reduce to 375mg qid or 500mg tds IV

So: Dose range: 15 x 200 = 3000mg: 750 mg qid or 1g tds 15 x 240 = 3600mg: 900mg qid or 1.2g tds for 3 days, then 15 x 100 = 1500mg: 375mg qid or 500mg

3. An adult requires Diclofenac 75mg IV for the prevention of postoperative pain. Decide on the administration regime, the infusion fluid, state how you would go about to make this up, the rate and duration of administration BNF directions for Diclofenac: 25 50mg over 15 60 min, then 5mg /hour for a max. of 2 days BNF appendix 6: IV additives: Infusion fluid: glucose 5% or sodium chloride 0.9% Volume required: 100-150ml Buffer: NB: to be added before Diclofenac sodium bicarbonate 8.4% add 0.5ml OR 4.2% add 1ml Add Diclofenac: 3ml amp containing 25mg/ml: for 25mg add 1ml and add 2ml for 50mg For continuous infusion of 5mg/hour for a maximum of 2 days: Total volume 100ml 150ml Strength Volume containing 5mg 25mg 50mg 20ml 10ml 25mg 30ml 50mg 15ml