Dosage calculation

pennyaline · May 28, 2009

HELP, I've tried everything I could think of, but can not find the right answer.
1) Calculate the total mg of hydrocodone the patient will receive.
Ordered: Hydrocodone/Acetaminophen Elixir 2 tsp. PO now
On hand: Hydrocodone 7.5mg/Acetaminophen 500mg/15mL Elixir

You're in the wrong forum, but I'll try to help you out. I won't solve the problem for you, but I'll get you pointed in the right direction.

I'm guessing your are a student :wink2:

It's a basic dosage calculation that assumes you know how to convert between the different types of measurements. So actually, all you need to do is Google those conversions ("How many milliliters in a teaspoon?" will work just fine) or find them in your reference books -- I'm sure they are there, too. From there, work out the number of milliliters in two teaspoons, then calculate the milligrams of the desired med available in that number of milliliters.

Use only the information that is relevant in the problem. These calculation problems are full of red herrings for you to sort out, but that's okay. Life is too :cheers:

cursedandblessed · May 30, 2009

1 tsp: 5 ml= 2 tsp: x ml

1x =10

1 1

x= 10 ml

some of this stuff like a tsp = 5 ml you just have to memorize

RossayRN · May 30, 2009

7.5mg:15ml=x:10ml

75=15x

x=5mg

5mg is the amount of hydrocodone the patient will receive.

Daytonite, BSN, RN · May 31, 2009

calculate the total mg of hydrocodone the patient will receive.

ordered: hydrocodone/acetaminophen elixir 2 tsp. po now

on hand: hydrocodone 7.5mg/acetaminophen 500mg/15ml elixir

by dimensional analysis:

2 tsp

(amount ordered)

/15 ml

(amount on hand)

x 7.5 mg

(amount of hydrocodone in the amount on hand)

/1 x 5 ml/1 tsp

(conversion factor)

=

5 mg

(amount of hydrocodone in 2 tsp of the elixir)