Pharm Calc!!!!!!

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HI All,

We have been given these pharm calc problem and I can't find any similar calculations in my book or notes. If anyone can help I would apreciate it.

A solutionof D5W containing 25mg of a drug is to infuse in 30min. The dosage range is 4-8 mg/kg/day, q6h. The child weighs 18.7 kg.

We need to know the dosage range per day, daily dosage ordered, and assessment.

Thanks so much for any help!!!!!!!

Specializes in ED, Pedi Vasc access, Paramedic serving 6 towns.

The dose range is 74.8 mg - 149.6 mg. (multiple 18.7 x 4 which will give you the least amount, then multiply that by 2 which gives you the max dose per day) So you end up with the range.

There is not enough info to tell you the daily dose ordered, or you left that out in your post.

specific assessment would depend on the medication you are giving. Generally it would be to look for signs of allergic reaction, irritation of the vein etc...

swtooth

HI All,

A solutionof D5W containing 25mg of a drug is to infuse in 30min. The dosage range is 4-8 mg/kg/day, q6h. The child weighs 18.7 kg.

We need to know the dosage range per day, daily dosage ordered, and assessment.

Thanks so much for any help!!!!!!!

it would seem that the 25 mg is the q6' dose so the daily dose is 100 mg

i agree, the assessment is drug specific

Specializes in OB.

the dose per day is 4-8 mg! it states 4-8 mg/kg/DAY

see the "DAY"

in that equation??

the total 24 hour dose this child would rec is 74.8-149.6.

why in the world would you mulitply it by 2??

and assess what?? the vein? the rate? the reaction? what kind of drug is it???

the dose per day is 4-8 mg! it states 4-8 mg/kg/DAY

see the "DAY"

in that equation??

the total 24 hour dose this child would rec is 74.8-149.6.

why in the world would you mulitply it by 2??

and assess what?? the vein? the rate? the reaction? what kind of drug is it???

i dont quite understand you issue.....the ratio of to 8 to 4 is 2, if you have the result for four, you multiple by two to get the result for 8......you come out with the same result as swtooth......and what is your empasis on DAY for?

my supposition that the 25mg was the q6' dose comes out within the parameters for daily dosage.....

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

Hi, COstudent!

A solution of D5W containing 25mg of a drug is to infuse over 30 minutes. The dosage range is 4-8 mg/kg/day and being given q6h. The child weighs 18.7 kg. We need to know the dosage range per day, daily dosage ordered, and assessment.

This is a problem that requires determining the safe dosage range in terms of mgs and then determining if a dose of 25 mg q6h is going to be within those safe parameters (that's the assessment part). This is how you solve this kind of problem. The information about the drug infusing over 30 minutes is extraneous information and not needed to solve the problem.

First, determine what the safe dosage range will be for a patient of weight 18.7kg. You need to find two figures because there is a range of 4mg to 8mg. So,:

4 mg
/
1 kg
(lower end of safe dose per day)
X
18.7 kg
/
1
(patient's weight)
=
74.8 mg
(lower end of safe dose per day for this patient)

8 mg
/
1 kg
(higher end of safe dose per day)
X
18.7 kg
/
1
(patient's weight)
=
149.6 mg
(higher end of safe dose per day for this patient)

So, the safe dosage range per day for this patient is 74.8 mg to 149.6 mg.

Now, determine how much the patient is going to get in one day, or 24 hours:

25 mg
(ordered)
X
1 dose
/
6 hours
(ordered intervals)
X
24 hours
/
1 day
(conversion factor)
=
100 mg dose/1 day
(total dose of medication patient will be receiving per day)

Assessment: Ask yourself, is 100 mg per day within the safe range of 74.8 mg to 149.6 mg? The answer is YES.

About the only thing that will make this problem harder would be for the patient's weight to be given to you in pounds. In that case, you would have to convert the patient's weight to kg first in order to complete all the calculations.

Welcome to allnurses! :welcome:

Thanks Daytonite!!!!!! I understand this now!

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