DRUG DOSAGE CALCULATION

Dr MUSA MARENA

OBJECTIVES• After completing this lecture, you should be able to:• Describe the various types of oral medications.• Apply ratio and proportion to solve oral drug dosage problems.• Apply the Formula Method to solve oral drug dosage problems.• Apply dimensional analysis to solve oral drug dosage problems.• Solve dosage calculation problems for medications in similar

and different measurement systems (use equivalent values when necessary).

• Understand the rationales for critical thinking checks

WHY?• Drugs are prescribed by their generic (official) name or trade (brand) names and

are packaged in an average unit dosage• Tablets and capsules contain a solid concentration of drugs (paracetamol gr x)

whereas solution contain a specific amount of drug (usually gram weight) dissolved in a specific amount of solution (usually mL’s or cc’s) (promethazine 20mg per ml)

• Parenteral medications (IM, SC, IV) are package in vials, ampoules, and pre-measured syringes. Dosages usually ranges from 1 to 3 ml

• Medication orders refer to drug dosages, so calculation will be necessary if dosage prescribe is different from available dosage

• Some drugs are measured in units (heparin, insulin, penicillin), and others are in solutions as mEq (grams per 1ml of solution). Some solutions need to be reconstituted from a` powder form.

• Infants and children cannot receive the same dose of medication as adult• Basic Math skills are needed to calculate most dosage and solution problems

encounter today in clinical practice• Accurate dosage calculation are an essential component of total nursing role in

safe administration of medication

BARRIER TO DRUG CALCULATION SUCCESS

Top ten reasons why healthcare professionals don’t think they need to maintain competency in calculations: The computer does it The pharmacy does it The IV infusion pump does it We have charts and tables that do it The drug companies take care of it We use unit dose It’s just a nursing school exercise We have a unit-based pharmacist Math is just not one of my strengths It’s not a good use of my time It’s the responsibility of the doctor to explain what he meant (write the correct amount)Responsible professionals cannot afford to become complacent with drug calculations as they are accountable for all drugs they administer

TERMS & TERMINOLOGY• FLOW RATE: is the volume per unit time usually expressed

as ml/hr. can be ml/min or ml/sec• DRIP RATE: is the number of drops per unit time usually

expressed as drops/min(dpm)• DOSE: amount of drug per unit time given to the patient

expressed as mg/min, g/hr or IU/min• CONCENTRATION: amount of the drug in a given volume

usually expressed as mg/ml, g/l or mIU/ml• DROP FACTOR: is the number of drops per unit volume.

Expressed as drops/ml• TITRATION: adjustment of the IV medication dosage

within prescribed parameters to achieve a desired effects.

• NUMERATOR: the top portion of the fraction• DENOMINATOR: the bottom portion of the fraction• UNIT: a dimension that is given to a number. For

Example - If you are to give 50, you would ask, 50 what? This could be mg, mL, tablets, teaspoons, etc. (mg, mL, tablets, tsp. are the units)

• UNIT EQUIVALENCIES: the value of equivalencies between two units.

• For Example: 1 kg = 2.2lbs, 5mL = 1tsp, 30mL = 1ounce,

• CONVERSION FACTOR: it is a unit equivalency written as a fraction. or

• DESIRED DOSE: the dose to be given, what you desire. Also known as the GIVEN QUANTITY or DOCTOR’S ORDER.

• WANTED QUANTITY: the answer (x); that is, mL, oz, mg.• AVAILABLE DOSE: the available amount of the drug, what

you have.• UNIT PLACEMENT OR PATH AND CANCELLATION:

placement of the units of the fractions in the numerator and the denominator positions so cancellation can occur.

• COMPUTATION: the calculation process. Cancel first, multiply the numerators, multiply the denominators, and then divide the product of the numerators by the product of the denominators.

MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS

• 3 main typesApothecaryHouseholdMetric

VOLUME Metric Apothecary Household4000ml 1gal(4qt)

1L (1000ml) 1qt (2pt)

500ml 1pt (16fl oz)

240ml 8 oz 1 glass/measuring cup

180ml 6oz 1 teacup

30ml 1 oz (8 dr) 2 tbsp

15ml ½ oz (4 dr) 1 tbsp (tablespoon)

5ml 1 dr (60M) 1 tsp (Teaspoon)

1ml 15 M 15 gtt

1 M(minim) 1 gtt(drop)180mL 6 oz 1 teacup

WEIGHT 60-65 mg 1 gr -

1 g (1000mg) 15gr -

1kg (1000g) - 2.2 ib

1mg (1000mcg) - -

LENGTH 2.5cm - 1 inch

PREFIXES AND RELATIVE VALUES OF THE INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM (SI)PREFIX MEANING

• Subdivisions• atto- one quintillionth (1018) of the basic

unit• femto- one quadrillionth (1015) of the

basic unit• pico- one trillionth (1012) of the basic unit• nano- one billionth (109) of the basic unit• micro- one millionth (106) of the basic

unit• milli- one thousandth (103) of the basic

unit• centi- one hundredth (102) of the basic

unit• deci- one tenth (101) of the basic unit

• Multiples• deka- 10 times the basic unit• hecto- 100 times (102) the basic unit• kilo- 1000 times (103) the basic unit• myria- 10,000 times (104) the basic unit• mega- 1 million times (106) the basic

unit• giga- 1 billion times (109) the basic unit• tera- 1 trillion times (1012) the basic unit• peta- 1 quadrillion times (1015) the basic

unit• exa- 1 quintillion times (1018) the basic

unit

CALCULATION METHODS• Various methods are used for solving medication

calculation• The most common methods are:

Formula, ProportionDimensional Analysis

• No one method is best for solving every type of problem. Several good approaches are available, however and one of the best is dimensional analysis

• Rule #1 in drug calculations - STICK TO ONE METHOD!

• REMEMBER: Drug calculation problems are simply story problems. • You have to develop a mathematical problem from the information that is

provided. • Reading comprehension is crucial in order to be successful at dosage

calculations. When reading the “story problem,” one must consider what they have read and ask themselves several questions. These should include:

• What is being asked of me? • What do I need to solve for? • What units does my answer need to be expressed in? • What units do I need in my problem and what units to I need to get rid of? • Are there units in the problem that I need to convert in order to set up my

problem? (we always want to work with similar units whenever possible)• What information in the problem do I need, and what information do I not

need? • How do I set up my problem to leave only the desired units in the answer? • Does my answer make sense? (very important)

FORMULA METHOD• DOSE (D)• CONCENTRATION• FLOW RATE• FLOW RATE• DRIP RATE

PROPORTION METHOD• Ratio is same as fraction

Use to express a relationship between two units or quantities

A slash (/) or colon (:) is use to indicate division and both are read as is to or per

With medication usually refers to weight of drug (i.e. gram) in a quantity of the solution ( i.e. cc’s)

50mg/cc= 50mg of a drug (solute) in 1cc of a liquid (solution)• A proportion states that two ratios are equal

In fraction form where two fractions are equal 1/3=3/9Colon form e.g. 1:3 :: 3:9

• A proportion consists of two ratios of equal value. The ratios are connected by a double colon (::), which symbolizes the word as. 2 : 3 :: 4 : 6

• Read the above proportion: “Two is to three as four is to six.”• The first and fourth terms of the proportion are the extremes. The

second and third terms are the means. 2 : 3 :: 4 : 6• 2 and 6 are the extremes• 3 and 4 are the means• A helpful way to remember the correct location of the extremes and

means isE = The end of the problemM = The middle of the problem

• In a proportion the product of the means equals the product of the extremes because the ratios are of equal value

DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS

• Also known as factor analysis, factor-label method, or unit-factor method, “chemistry math”

• Dimensional Analysis relies on two simple mathematical concepts.Concept 1: When a nonzero quantity is divided by

the same amount, the result is 1.Concept 2 When a quantity is multiplied by 1,

the quantity is unchanged.

• Given quantity: the beginning point of the problem, commonly the doctor’s order.

• Wanted quantity: the answer to the problem• Unit path: the series of conversions necessary to

achieve the answer to the problem• Conversion factors: equivalents necessary to convert

between systems of measurement and to allow unwanted units to be canceled from the problem

• Each conversion factor is a ratio of units that equals 1.

METHODS

• Sequential• random

Given quantity Conversion factor for given Quantity

Conversion Factor For Wanted Quantity

Conversion computation

Wanted quantity

SEQUENTIAL METHODThe problem-solving method of dimensional analysis uses the following five steps.• Identify the given quantity in the problem.• Identify the wanted quantity in the problem.• Establish the unit path from the given quantity to the wanted quantity

using unit equivalents as conversion factors.• Set up the conversion factors to permit cancellation of unwanted units.

Carefully choose each conversion factor and ensure that it is correctly placed in the numerator or denominator portion of the problem to allow the unwanted units to be canceled from the problem.

• Multiply the numerators, multiply the denominators, and divide the product of the numerators by the product of the denominators to provide the numerical value of the wanted quantity.

• Step 1. Identify the given quantity and its unit of measurement.• Step 2. Identify the wanted unit of the answer.• Step 3. Establish the unit path (to go from the given quantity and

unit to the arithmetic answer in the wanted unit), and identify the conversion factors needed. This might include: (a) a conversion factor for the given quantity and unit, and/or (b) a conversion factor to arrive at the wanted unit of the answer.

• Step 4. Set up the ratios in the unit path such that cancellation of units of measurement in the numerators and denominators will retain only the desired unit of the answer.

• Step 5. Perform the computation by multiplying the numerators, multiplying the denominators, and dividing the product of the numerators by the product of the denominators.

RANDOM METHOD• Similar to random sequential method• The sequences of conversion factors is randomly

placed. The factors are placed without considering which factor precedes its

• The units of the numerator portion correlates with the numerator unit of the wanted quantity whilst the denominators should correlates too.

• The unwanted units should cancel each other out

PERCENT & RATIO STRENGTH• Percentage is Always a division of 100• It means the “hundredth part”• Has a symbol of %• The concentrations of weak solutions are frequently

expressed in terms of ratio strength. Because all percentages are a ratio of parts per hundred, ratio strength is merely another way of expressing the percentage strength of solutions or liquid preparations (and, less frequently, of mixtures of solids).

For example, 5% means 5 parts per 100 or 5:100. Although 5 parts per 100 designates a ratio strength, it is customary to translate this designation into a ratio, the first figure of which is 1; thus, 5:100 = 1:20.

• The concentrations of weak solutions are frequently expressed in terms of ratio strength. Because all percentages are a ratio of parts per hundred, ratio strength is merely another way of expressing the percentage strength of solutions or liquid preparations (and, less frequently, of mixtures of solids). For example, 5% means 5 parts per 100 or 5:100. Although 5 parts per 100 designates a ratio strength, it is customary to translate this designation into a ratio, the first figure of which is 1; thus, 5:100 = 1:20.

• When a ratio strength, for example, 1:1000, is used to designate a concentration, it is to be interpreted as follows:

• For solids in liquids=1 g of solute or constituent in 1000 mL of solution or liquid preparation.

• For liquids in liquids = 1 mL of constituent in 1000 mL of solution or liquid preparation.

• For solids in solids = 1 g of constituent in 1000 g of mixture.• The ratio and percentage strengths of any solution or mixture of solids are

proportional, and either is easily converted to the other by the use of proportion. • Some medications like epinephrine are written as 1 in1000, 1in 10000, 1 in 100000

or as 1:1000, 1:10000, 1:100000.• This means 1g of solute in 1000ml of solution, 1g in 10000ml, 1in 100000ml, 1g in

1000000ml or 1g:1000ml

TITRATING MEDICATIONS• Titration is adjustment of the dose, either

increasing or decreasing, to attain the desired patient response.

• Weaning is a gradual decrease of the dose when the medication is being discontinued

OXYTOCIN RECOMMENDATION• Low dose 0.5-3mIU/min

Mainly use for induction of labour Practical purpose starting dose: 2.5mIU/min increasing every 20-30min interval. Adequate contraction may be establish at 12-16mIU/min Maximum licensed dose is 20mIU/min

• High dose 4-6mIU/min Augmentation or active management of labour Practical purpose starting dose: 5mIU/min increasing every 20-30min interval Maximum licensed dose is 20mIU if higher dose is required should not be more than 32mIU/min. Note for nulliparous maximum dose can be as high as 60mIU/min

• For ease of calculation multiples of 5 are taken as the starting dose. Ie 2.5mIU/min for low dose and 5mIU/min for high dose.

• Standard concentrations prepared are 5mIU/ml, 10mIU/ml or 20mIU/ml corresponding to2.5IU, 5IU and 10IU in 500mls of fluid respectively

• Preparation of oxytocin • Oxytocin is administered via an infusion pump to allow precise control of the rate of administration • Oxytocin is diluted by mixing 30 units in 500 mL to allow an infusion pump setting that matches

dose administration, i.e., 1 mIU per minute equals 1 mL per hour. • Oxytocin is given IV and reaches a steady state in plasma in about 30-40 minutes. The therapeutic

response to a certain dose of oxytocin is unpredictable, although most patients enter labor and go on to delivery with doses of 11-13 mIU per minute.

OXYTOCIN PROTOCOL• Example of low-dose protocol:• Initial dose of oxytocin..................................0.5 to 3 mU/min• Increase interval......................................................30 minutes• Dosage increment....................................................1 to 2 mU• Usual dose for good labour.........................8 to 12 mU/min• Maximum dose before reassessment.................30 mU/min• Example of high-dose protocol:• Initial dose of oxytocin..................................4 to 6 mU/min• Increase interval............................................15 to 30 minutes• Dosage increment...........................................4 to 6 mU/min• Usual dose for good labour.........................8 to 12 mU/min• Maximum dose before reassessment.................30 mU/min

Induction: High vs Low Dose protocols

Regimen Starting dose mU/min

Incresae mU/min

Interval min

Usual Dose for good labour mU/min

Maximum recommended dose mU/min

Low dose 0.5-3 0.5-3 30-60 8-12 30High dose 4-6 4-6 15-30 8-12 30

BNF

• Induction-------: 0.001-0.004unit/min (1-4mIU/min)• Adequate contraction usually 0.01unit/min

(10mIU/min)• Max license --------------------------------- 0.02unit/min

(20mIU/min)• Incomplete abortion------- 0.02-0.04unit/min (20-

40mIU/min)

SAFE DOSE• Doses recommended for a given drug so as to avoid

toxicity.• Its is the therapeutic range of the drug• Found compile in documents • British national drug formula (BNF)

• Normally based on Amount per unit timeAmount per body weightAmount per body surface area

BODY SURFACE AREA

• Use either a normogram chart to fine the body surface area or

• Body surface area BSA=

• Remember, in any drug calculation, if you do not include the proper unit in your answer, your answer will be WRONG!

• Example: 5 mL, not 5………2 tsp, not 2………1 tablet, not 1

PAEDIATRICS DRUG CALCULATION• Posology ( Greek póso(s) how much + -logy)

the branch of medicine concerned with the determination of appropriate doses of drugs or agents [ from French posologie, from Greek posos how much]

1. Proportion to ageA. Young’s formula

The above formula is used for calculating the doses for children less than 12years of age (1-12years)B. Dilling’s formula

The above formula is used for calculating the doses of a child in between 4-20years of ageC. Fried’s formula

1. Calculation base on body surface areaA. Catzel rule:

The average body surface area for an adult=1.73m2Hence

1. Calculation base on body weight:A. Clark’s rule

The rule is applicable only when child dose is less than 150lb or 70kg

Temperature Conversions

• Medication orders often use Centigrade temperature. • The relationship of centigrade © and Fahrenheit (F) degrees

is

• To convert from Fahrenheit to Centigrade, use this formula: °C = (°F − 32) ÷ 1.8 °C = (°F − 32) ÷

• To convert from Centigrade to Fahrenheit, use this formula: °F = (°C × 1.8) + 32 °F = (°C × ) + 32

Here is a table of approximate temperature equivalents:

fahrenheit centigrade212 100105 40.56104 40103 39.44102 38.89101 38.33100 37.7899 37.2298.6 3797 36.1196 35.5632 0

FLUID THERAPY• In fluid therapy maintenance is calculated using 4, 2, 1 formula (Holliday-Segar’s

Formula): This was standard looking at maintenance daily fluid requirement of health children 4ml/kg/hr. for first 10kg, 2ml/kg/hr. for next 10kg 1ml/kg/hr. for remaining kilogram weight.

• This can be simplified by using formula• Maintenance fluid requirement (ml/hr) = {60+ (Weight kg-20)} ml/hr for weight

≥20kg• Example: 65kg women who is nil per Os will require

Fluid required= 60+ (65-20) 60+45 105ml/hr of intravenous infusion

• Similarly 70kg who had fasted over (night) 8hrs for elective surgery will have deficit of Fluid deficit = 60 + (70-20) =60 + 50ml =110ml/hr Hence total fluid deficit is 110ml/hr ×8hr=880ml

SAMPLE QUESTION• A woman is admitted to the labor room with a diagnosis of preterm labor. She states that she has not seen a physician

because this is her third baby and she “knows what to do while she is pregnant.” Her initial workup indicates a gestational age of 32 weeks, and she tests positive for Chlamydia and Strep-B. Her vital signs are: T 100° F; P 98; R 18; B/P 140/88mmHg; and the fetal heart rate is 140–150. The orders include the following:

• NPO• IV fluids: D5/RL 1,000 mL q8h• Electronic fetal monitoring• Vital signs q4h• Dexamethasone 6 mg IM q12h for 2 doses• Brethine (terbutaline sulfate) 0.25 mg subcutaneous q30 minutes for 2h• Rocephin (ceftriaxone sodium) 250 mg IM stat• Penicillin G 5 million units IVPB stat; then 2.5 million units q4h• Zithromax (azithromycin) 500 mg IVPB stat and daily for 2 days1. Calculate the rate of flow for the D5/RL in mL/h.2. The label on the dexamethasone reads 8 mg/mL. How many milliliters will you administer?3. The label on the terbutaline reads 1 mg/ml. How many milliliters will you administer?4. The label on the ceftriaxone states to reconstitute the 1 g vial with 2.1 mL of sterile water for injection, which results

in a strength of 350 mg/mL. How many milliliters will you administer?5. The instructions state to reconstitute the penicillin G (use the minimum amount of diluent), add to 100 mL D5W, and

infuse in one hour. The drop factor is 10drops/ml. What is the rate of flow in gtts/min? The label on Penicillin G reads pfizerpen (penicillin G Potassium) for injection 5million units. Additional information 18.2ml diluent added gives 250 000units/ml, 8.2ml diluent added gives 500 000units/ml and 3.2ml diluent added gives 1 000 000units/ml of solution.

6. The instructions for the azithromycin state to reconstitute the 500 mg vial with 4.8 mL until dissolved, and add to 250 mL of D5W and administer over at least 60 minutes. What rate will you set the infusion pump if you choose to administer the medication over 90 minutes? If drop factor is 15drops/ml, what is the drip rate?

The patient continues to have uterine contractions, and a new order has been written: Magnesium sulfate 4g IV bolus over 20 minutes, then 1g/h. The label on the vial of magnesium sulphate is 50% w/v and IV bag states magnesium sulfate 40

g in 1,000 ml.1. What is the rate of flow in mL/h for the bolus dose? If the drop factor is 20gtt/mL, determine

the drip rate?2. What is the rate of flow in mL/h for the maintenance dose? If the drop factor is 60gtt/min,

determine the flow rate in gtt/min?3. What volume of magnesium sulphate was withdrawn for the bolus and how many mililitres of

magnesium sulphate was place in the IV bag?The patient continues to have contractions and her membranes rupture. The following orders are written: Discontinue the magnesium sulfate. Pitocin (oxytocin) 10 units/1,000 mL RL, start at 0.5mIU/min increases by 1 mU/min q20

minutes. Stadol (butorphanol tartrate) 1mg IVP stat.1. What is the rate of flow in mL/h for the initial dose of Pitocin? The drop factor is 60mcgtt/mL.

Calculate the flow rate in mcgtt/min.2. The Pitocin is infusing at 9 mL/h. How many mU/h is the patient receiving? Find the drip rate

if the drop factor is 10gtt/mL?3. What would be the drip rate after 1hr of initiating Pitocin using drop factor of 15.4. The vial of butorphanol tartrate is labeled 2 mg/mL. How many milliliters will you administer?

Postpartum the woman developed postpartum haemorrhage. The following orders are written Massage uterus for contraction q15min, continuous monitoring vitals. Pitocin 20unit in 500ml NS, giving at 20miU/min Ergometrin 1mg IM stats Tablets Misoprostol 800mcg PR stats Transfuse 2units of whole blood over 6hours.1. what is the flow rate of the Pitocin drip? Using IV set of 20drops/ml at what drip rate would the nurse

regular the drip?2. Label on the Ergometrin ampoule 0.5mg/ml. how many millileters will the nurse administer?3. Misoprostol packet label 200mg/tablets. How many tablets should be inserted PR?4. A unit of blood has 400ml. if the blood giving set gives 15drops/ml what rate should the flow rate hence

calculate the drip rate be regulated3 days later patient develop fever chill rigors foul smelly vaginal discharge and uterine tenderness. Diagnosis of puerperal sepsis was made and the following order are written Tablets paracetamol 1g every 6hours IV Clindamycin 900mg every 8hours IV Gentamycin 1.5mg/kg every 8hours IV 500mlof NS over 30minutes then maintenance of 3liters over the next 24hrs1. Sachet of paracetamol has 250mg/tablet. How many tablets should the patient receive?2. Label on the clindamycin vial is 150mg/ml. how many milliters should the patient receive each dose?3. Gentamycin vial label 20mg/ml. the patient weighs 65kg. How many milligrams is the patient supposed to

receive hence how many milliliter of gentamycin should be given to the patient for each dose?4. If the drop factor of the set is 15drops/ml. what is the flow rate for the maintenance. What should be the

drip rate? If the patient weighs 75kg what should be appropriate maintenance fluid requirement?5. Patient was discharge two weeks after admission.

1.The physician has ordered 1000mL D5W with 5units oxytocin intravenously. Begin at 1mU/min and then increase by 1mU/min every 30 minutes until regular contractions occur. The maximum dose is 20mU/min.

Calculate the IV flow rate (mL/hr.) for the beginning infusion.Calculate the IV drip rate for the beginning infusion.Calculate the maximum IV flow rate the Pitocin infusion may be set for.Calculate the maximum IV drip rate the Pitocin infusion may be set for

2. The physician has ordered 1000mL D5W with 10units oxytocin intravenously. Begin at 5mU/min and then increase by 5mU/min every 30minutes until active labor is achieved. Maximum dose is 30mU/min.Calculate the IV flow rate (ml/hr) for the beginning infusionCalculate the IV drip rate for the beginning infusion.Calculate the maximum IV flow rate (mL/h) for the beginning infusion.What is the maximum IV drip rate the Pitocin infusion may be set for?3. The physician has ordered 500mL D5W with 10units oxytocin intravenously. Begin at 5mU/min and then increase by 5mU/min every 30minutes until regular contractions occur. The maximum dose is 60mU/min.a. Calculate the IV flow rate (mL/h) for the beginning infusion.b. Calculate the IV drip rate for the beginning infusion.c. Calculate the maximum IV flow rate the Pitocin infusion may be set for.d. Calculate the maximum IV drip rate the Pitocin infusion may be set for.

4. The physician has ordered 1000mL lactated Ringer’s with 20g magnesium sulfate. You are to administer a bolus with 4g/30min, then maintain a continuous infusion at 2g/hr.

Calculate the IV rate (mL/hr) for the bolus order.Calculate the IV drip rate for the bolus order.Calculate the IV rate (mL/hr) for the continuous infusion.Calculate the IV drip rate for the continuous infusion.

5: The physician has ordered 500mL lactated Ringer’s with 10g magnesium sulfate. You are to administer a bolus with 2g/20min, then maintain a continuous infusion at 1g/hr.a. Calculate the IV rate (mL/hr) for the bolus order. b. Calculate the IV drip rate for the bolus order.c. Calculate the IV rate (mL/hr) for the continuous infusion.d. Calculate the IV drip rate for the continuous infusion6: The physician has ordered 1000mL lactated Ringer’s with 10g magnesium sulfate. You are to administer a bolus with 2g/30min, then maintain a continuous infusion at 2g/hr.a. Calculate the IV rate (mL/hr.) for the bolus order.b. Calculate the IV drip rate for the bolus order.c. Calculate the IV rate (mL/hr) for the continuous infusion.d. Calculate the IV drip rate for the continuous infusion.

Oxytocin ordering

• IV oxytocin (pitocin) 10units infuse at 20mU/min• 1000ml D5W with 10units oxytocin intravenously.

Begin at 1mU/min and then increase by 1mU/min every 30min until regular contractions occur. The maximum dose is 20mU/min.

• In obstetrics, a pitocin (oxytocin) drip can initiate labour. The standard solution is 15units in 250ml (60mIU/ml). Because 1unit=1000miliunits.

• Order Pitocin (oxytocin) drip 2miliunits/minutes IV. Supply: infusion pump, standard solution 15units in NS 250ml.

• Pitocin (oxytocin) 2miliunits/minutes IV. Supply infusion pump, solution of 9units in 150ml NS (60mIU/ml).

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