Apr 15, 201115 yr Is there a trend that all ICU IV meds are going to weight-based dosing?I've been trying to find some information from different areas-wondering if current practice is changing in your step-down and critical care areas. More Like This School, College Programs Quest Nursing Education Center (LVN to RN) - Based out of Oakland but runs through Florida 1 Replies Active 09/23/2025 01:31 AM
Apr 15, 201115 yr Not aware of any new ones, except IV Acetaminophen, being weight-based. Makes sense though. The mfg. companies used to base trials on the average adult weighing 150 lbs. That is a gross understatement anymore.
Apr 15, 201115 yr Expert Not to sound dumb, but there is such thing as IV Tylenol? I have never heard of it...And most of the drips that I experienced in my senior practicum in a MICU were weight-based.
Apr 15, 201115 yr We ONLY do weight based IV drips now with the exception of a few (Diltiazem, Vasopressin, Amniodarone). It is policy now,....
Apr 16, 201115 yr Not to sound dumb, but there is such thing as IV Tylenol? I have never heard of it...And most of the drips that I experienced in my senior practicum in a MICU were weight-based.Yes there is IV Tylenonl (paracetamol) in Australia. It's called Perfalgan. It comes in 100mg/100ml bottles (10mg/ml). It is expensive to use but very, very effective. We only run it on it's own over 15 minutes (so you set the IV pump to 400mls per hour). Most places I've worked don't use pumps, you just manually titrate the IV to run without a pump.Most times we use oral paracetamol here in Oz, and you always calculate meds for underweight patients (adults/teengers), or babies.
Apr 16, 201115 yr Not I. I did work at a hospital once where the computer system defaulted fentanyl to a weight based amount. I can only think of this drug in terms of mcg/hr, it was very distressing. lol
Is there a trend that all ICU IV meds are going to weight-based dosing?
I've been trying to find some information from different areas-wondering if current practice is changing in your step-down and critical care areas.