(IV Medications and Others)
IV Flow Rates
B. Amiodarone
A. (mL/hr)
𝐓𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐞 (𝐦𝐋)
𝐦𝐋/𝐡𝐫 =
𝐓𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 (𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐫)
B. Drops per minute (gtss/min)
Common drop factors:
Macro
10 gtt
1 mL
15 gtt
1 mL
20 gtt
1 mL
Micro
60 gtt
1 mL
*In Macro, 15, 20 most commonly used
factor. For blood transfusion, 18 or 18 gtt used
(𝐓𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐕𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐞)(𝐃𝐫𝐨𝐩 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫)
𝐠𝐭𝐬𝐬/𝐦𝐢𝐧 =
𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐬
Formulas in Medical Administration
A. For Oral Medications
Q=
D
S
Where:
 Q = Amount to give
 S = Stock Dose
 Desired Dose
B. For Parenteral Medications
X =
D
(Dilution)
S
Where:
 D = desired dose
 S = stock dose
 X = amount to give
IV Medications
Preparation: 150 mg/3 ml vial
Loading Dose: 5-10 mg/kg body
weight/24 hour or 500 - 1000 mg in 24
hours
Maximum Dose: 100o mg/24 hours
Orders: Give 150 mg slow IV push over 1030 minutes followed by D5W 250 mL + 150
- 300 mg IV Amiodarone to run 24 hours
* No more than 6 additional boluses
should be given in any 24 hour period
may be given
C. Clonidine (Catapres Drip)
Concentration = 150 ug/ml ampule
D5W 250 ml + Catapres 2 amps (150
mg/amp) at 5-30 ugtss/min
D. Clonidine/Hydrazaline
D5W 250 ml + Apresoline 2 amps (20
mg/amp) + Catapres 2 amps (150
mg/amp) at 5-30 ugtss/min (up to 60
ugtss/min)
E. Diazepam
D5W 100 ml + Diazepam 10 mg q 6 hours
Maximum = 60 mg/day
F. Dobutamine
250mg/amp in 250mL D5W
ugtt/min = ug/kg/min x wt in kg
G. Dopamine
D5W 250 mL + Aminophylline 250 mg/amp
at 15-40 ugtts/min
Preparation: D5W 250 mL + Dopamine 200
mg/amp at 10-60 ugtts/min
Dosage: Drip of 2.5-10 mcg/kg/min is
equivalent to 9-38 ugtss/min for a 50 kg
patient
Loading Dose: 5 mg/kg BW in 30 ml D5W
in a soluset
Usual maintenance: Drip of 0.4-0.8
mg/kg/hr = 20-40 ugtss/min for a 50 kg
patient
drip mcg x BW
13.3
*If with CHF may use double dose at max
rate of 30 ugtss/min
A. Aminophylline
ugtss/min = body weight x dose
ugtss/min =
(IV Medications and Others)
H. Epinephrine
Preparation: D5W 250 mL + 1 amp (1 mg)
Epi at 15-150 ugtts/min
Dosage: : Drip of 1-10 mcg/min = 15-150
ugtt/min
I.
initially followed by 5-10 mg every 20 min to
maximum of 40 mg
Drip
D5W 250mL + 2 amps @ 5-30gtts/min
Maximum dose of 3.5 mg/kg/24hrs
Esmolol
Preparation: 100 mg/10 ml vial
Concentration: 10 mg/ml
Loading Dose : 0.5 mg or 500
mcg/kg/min
Maintenance Dose: 25-200 mcg/kg/min
Start at 5- mcg/kg/min over 4 min
J. Furosemide
Preparation: D5W 250 ml + Furosemide
high dose 250 mg/amp at 5-30 ugtss/min
Concentration: 50 units/mL
Dosage: : Drip of 5-30 ugtss/min = 5-30
mg/hr
K. Heparin
N APTT: 1.5-2.5
: Bolus of 80 ‘u’/kg
: Drip 10,000 ‘u’ + 98cc D5W
18 u kg
=
= ugtt/min or cc/hr
hr
100
Titration:
>3 stop for 1hr, then 3u/kg/hr
2.5-3= 2
1.5-2.5= maintain
1.2-1.5= 2 ’u’
<1.2 = 4 ’u’
L. Hydergine
D5NM 1 L + 6 amps hydergine x
16 − 24 hours x 3 Doses
M. Hydralazine
in hypertensive emergencies: IV boluses of
10-20 mg, repeated as necessary at 15 min
intervals, to a maximum of 50 mg.
Can also be given as an infusion: 0.5-1
mg/min
in pre-ecplamsia for control of BP: 5 mg IV
N. Insulin
Preparation
1. Add 50 units (u) regular insulin to 250cc
Normal Saline (NS)
2. This will make 1u insulin/5cc NS
(0.2u/cc)
Infusion
1. Start at 0.1u/kg/hr (0.5cc/kg/hr)
2. Half life of insulin is approximately 5
minutes
3. Insulin levels return to baseline within
10 minutes of stopping infusion and no
further fall in glucose then occurs
4. Aim for a steady fall in glucose of
approximately 100mg/hr
a. Avoid dropping glucose too
fast
b. It can result in hypoglycemia
and cerebral edema with
herniation (secondary to the
presence of idiogenic osmols in
the brain)
If Glucose is 121 - 150: Give 2 unit bolus
injection and start drip at 2 units/hr.
If Glucose is 151 - 175: Give 3 unit bolus
injection and start drip at 2 units/hr.
If Glucose is 176 - 200: Give 4 unit bolus
injection and start drip at 3 units/hr.
If Glucose is 201 - 250: Give 6 unit bolus
injection and start drip at 3 units/hr.
If Glucose is 251 - 300: Give 8 unit bolus
injection and start drip at 4 units/hr.
If Glucose is 301 - 350: Give 10 unit bolus
injection and start drip at 4 units/hr.
If Glucose is 351 - 400: Give 12 unit bolus
injection and start drip at 5 units/hr.
If Glucose is above 401: Give 15 unit bolus
injection and start drip at 5 units/hr.
Accuchecks q 1 hr. until Glucose is “steadystate” between 80 - 150, then q 2hrs ATC.
Adjust Drip Rate as Necessary to fit Target
Parameters
(IV Medications and Others)
O. Isosorbide Dinitrate
a. D5W90mL + Isoket 10mg in soluset
Drip of 10-50 ugtts/min is equal to 1-5mg/hr
b. if with CHF, use 2x dose:
D5W + Isoket 20mg in soluset
Drip of 5-25 ugtts/min is equal to
1- 5mg/hr
P. Lidocaine
Preparation: D5W 250 ml + Lidocaine 1 gm at
15-60 ugtts/min
Concentration: 4 mg/ml
Dosage: Drip of 15-60 ugtss/min = 104
mcg/min
Loading Dose: 1 mg/kg IV
initial control, followed by maintenance
infusion of 1 to 3 mg/hr.
IV to PO conversion:
20mg orally q8h= 0.5 mg/hr
30mg orally q8h= 1.2 mg/hr
40mg orally q8h= 2.2 mg/hr
Supplied: 25 mg/10 ml ampule
U. Nitroglycerin
Preparation: 50 mg/ 250 ml
0 to 100 mg/ 250 ml (glass)
(Max conc: 0.4 mg/ml) Titrate D5W
Dosage: : (HTN/ CHF/ angina): initial infusion
rate 5 mcg/min. May increase by 5 mcg/min
every 3 to 5 minutes until response. If 20
mcg/minute is inadequate, increase by 10 to
20 mcg/min every 3 to 5 minutes.
ugtss/min = dose x 15
50 mg
mcg
=
(0.3)
250 mL min
Q. Magnesium Sulfate Drip
Preparation: D5W 250 ml + 2 gm MgSO4 at 20
ml/hr
Concentration: 250 mg/ml z 10 ml ampule =
2.5 gm/ampule
R. Midazolam
Preparation: 15 mg/3 ml amp, 5 mg/5ml
amp, 5 mg/ml amp PNSS or D5W 250 ml +
midazolam 50 mg at 1/3 mg/hr
S. Morphine Sulfate
Preparation: PNSS 50 ml + 1 amp Morphine
Sulfate (16 mg/amp) at 6 ugtss/min (2 mg/hr)
As needed: May give 1-3 mg morphine
sulfate SCN prn
T. Nicardipine (Cardene)
bolus 1mg/iv, pag drip 10mg to make 100cc
d5w/pnss, at 10-15cc/hr, then titrate to effect
Preparation: 25 mg/ 240 ml
(Total vol= 250 ml) Titrate D5W / NS
Dosage:
Treat hypertension: initially 5 mg/hr-if not
effective increase dose 2.5 mg/hr every 5 to
15 minutes to a maximum of 15 mg/hour.
Postop hypertension: 10 to 15 mg/hour for
(eg 5 mcg/min=@ 2ml/hr ; 20mcg/min = 6
ml/hr etc.)
V. Nitroprusside Drip
Preparation: D5W 250 ml + Nitroprusside 50
mg as side drip at 5-30 ugtss/min
Dosage: Drip of 0.5-8 mcg/kg/min = 8-120
ugtss/min for a 50 kg patient
ugtss/min = Dose x body weight in kg / 3.3
W. Norepinephrine (Levophed)
Preparation: 8 mg/ 250 ml
(4 to 16 mg/ 250 ml) Titrate D5W
Dosage: initially 8 to 12 mcg/min -titrate to
blood pressure
Usual target: SBP: 80-100 or MAP=80
Usual maintenance: 2 to 4 mcg/min
8 mg
mcg
=
(1.875)
250 mL min
X. Pentoxifylline

D5W 250-500 ml + 1 amp Pentoxifylline
300 mg x 6 hours for 1 dose then PO
Pentpoxifylline 400 mg 1 tab TID
(IV Medications and Others)
D5W 500 ml + 3 amps Pentoxifylline
(900 mg) x 24 hours
Y. Sodium Bicarbonate
Parkland Forumula = (4 cm3 of crystalloid) X
(% BSA burn) X
(body weight in kg)
D5W 250 ml + NaHC03 1 amp (8.4% - 50 ml
vial) X 12-24 hours (or at 20-40 ugtss/min)
Z. Somatostatin
*One half of the calculated fluid requirement
is administered in the first 8 hours, and the
balance is given over the remaining 16 hours.
* Urine output should be maintained at 0.5
cm3/kg/h.

Give 250 mcg slow iv then
 D5W 500 ml + 3 mg Somatostatin at
42 ml/hr (250 mcg/hr) or
 D5W 250 ml + 3 mg Somatostatin at
21 ml/hr (250 mcg/hr)
AA.
Streptokinase
Steptokinase 1.5 million units + D5W 90 ml at
100 ml/hr (1 hr running rate)
A. Burns for Children
Maintenance fluid = (100 cc/kg/day for first 10 kg)
+ (50 cc/kg/day for second 10 kg) + (20
cc/kg/day for weight in excess of 20 kg)
Maintain urine output at 1cc/kg/hr
A. GCS
Glascow Coma Scale
BB. Terbutaline
Preparation: D5 W 250 ml + 5 amps Bricanyl at
10-30 ugtss/min
Activity Score
Eye
Opening
Others
A. Burns (Rule of Nines)
Verbal
Motor
C. Parkland Formula
Infants
Children and
Adults
4
Spontaneous
Spontaneous
3
To speech or
sound
To speech
2
To painful
stimuli
To painful stimuli
1
None
None
5
Appropriate
words or
sounds, social
smile, fixes and
follows
Oriented
4
Cries, but
consolable
Confused
3
Persistently
irritable
Inappropriate
words
2
Restless,
agitated
Incomprehensible
sounds
1
None
None
6
Spontaneous Obeys commands
movement
5
Localizes to
pain
Localizes to pain
4
Withdraws to
pain
Withdraws to pain
3
Abnormal
flexion
Abnormal flexion
(decorticate)
(IV Medications and Others)
(decorticate)
2
Abnormal
extension
(decerebrate)
Abnormal
extension
(decerebrate)
1
None
None