Dopamine has been ordered for a patient weighing 84.9 kg at 2.5 mcg/kg/min. The solution strength is 500 mg in 250 mL. Of DSW. At what rate should the medication be infused?

Question

Dopamine has been ordered for a patient weighing 84.9 kg at 2.5 mcg/kg/min. The solution strength is 500 mg in 250 mL. Of DSW. At what rate should the medication be infused?

Answer 1

Ans: 6.3675 mL/hr

Dopamine has been ordered for a patient weighing 84.9 kg at 2.5 mcg/kg/min. The solution strength is 500 mg in 250 mL. Of DSW. At what rate should the medication be infused?

We will use the standard infusion (drip rate) formula:

??? ml/hr to set the pump.

Vol(mL)/Conc(mcg) * dose(mcg)/time(min) * min/hour = mL/hr

1^st we need to calculate the desire dose:

84.9 kg x 2.5 mcg = 212.25 mcg

We also need to convert the 500mg added to our IV bag to mcg: 1000 mcg/mg x 500mg/added = 500,000 mcg

The question clues us in to the rest (but assumes an IV pump – needing “mL/hr” for our setting.)

250mL / 500,000mcg * 212.25 mcg/min * 60min/hr =6.3675 mL/hr

Answer 2