dosage calculation for nebulizer

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Specializes in Grad 2010.

Hello:

I need to do a dosage calculation for epinephrine in a nebulizer and it seems like the doc is prescribing 10x the recommended dose...

Here is the info

epinephrine: 1:1000

0.05ml/kg/dose in 2-3 ml of NaCl via nebulizer upto q1hr prn (usually .25 - .5ml/dose) that is what it said in the drug book..

for example if someone weighted 12kg the max safe dose would be

0.05 X 12 = 0.6ml..

If an order stated 5ml q1hr PRN??? This would seem to be 10x the recommended dose..??

Can anyone point out where I may be going wrong or how to do this calculation for nebulizer epinephrine

Thanks

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could you clarify your units of measure, please....

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Specializes in Grad 2010.

Hey Morte:

What units of measure?? The 1:1000?? I'm thinking 1part epinephrine to 1000 parts NaCl??

0.05ml/kg/dose in 2-3 ml of NaCl .. Usual dose is 0.25ml to 0.5 ml/dose..

all the questions said was 1:1000 give 5mls q1hr PRN??

Thanks for the help

could you clarify your units of measure, please....
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Hey Morte:

What units of measure?? The 1:1000?? I'm thinking 1part epinephrine to 1000 parts NaCl??

0.05ml/kg/dose in 2-3 ml of NaCl .. Usual dose is 0.25ml to 0.5 ml/dose..

all the questions said was 1:1000 give 5mls q1hr PRN??

Thanks for the help

usually, med orders are written MG per kg not ML per kg....what, exactly, is the doctors order?

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

Seems to me that you can't do this problem without a patient's weight. Also, epinephrine can also be given subcutaneously. Are you sure you are not confusing a nebulizing dose with a subcutaneous dosage?

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Specializes in Grad 2010.

Hey:

I'm pretty sure it is the nebulizer. What if the clients weight was 12kg.

Thanks

Seems to me that you can't do this problem without a patient's weight. Also, epinephrine can also be given subcutaneously. Are you sure you are not confusing a nebulizing dose with a subcutaneous dosage?
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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

0.05ml/kg/dose in 2-3 ml of NaCl via nebulizer upto q1hr prn (usually .25 - .5ml/dose) that is what it said in the drug book..

for example if someone weighted 12kg the max safe dose would be

0.05 X 12 = 0.6ml..

If an order stated 5ml q1hr PRN??? This would seem to be 10x the recommended dose..??

I would assume that this means that you add the 0.6 mL of the epinephrine to 5mL of saline.

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