Question

a 680g patient comes in with diarrhea. the doctor orders anti-diarrhea medication at a dosage of 15 mcg/kg TID x 3 days. rhye medication concentration 50mcg/ml. What is the patients dose in MCG? What is the total volume of medication you will send home?

Answer 1

dose in MCG = 10.2 mcg

Total volume to be sent home = 1.836 ml (1836μl)

Explanation:

weight of patient = 680g

dosage in mcg of medication = 15mcg/kg

This means that

for every 1kg weight, 15mcg is given,

since 1kg = 1000g, we can also say that for every 1000g weigh, 15mcg is given.

1000g = 15mcg

1g = 15/1000 mcg = 0.015 mcg

∴ 680g = 0.015 × 680 = 10.2 mcg

Dosage in MCG = 10.2 mcg

Next, we are also told ever ml volume of the drug contains 50 mcg weight of the drug (50mcg/ml). This can also be written as:

50mcg = 1 ml

1 mcg = 1/50 ml = 0.02 ml

∴ 10.2 mcg = 10.2 × 0.02 = 0.204 ml

since the medication is to be taken TID (three times daily) for 3 days, the total number of times the drug is to be taken = 9 times.

therefore, the total volume required = 0.204 × 9 = 1.836 ml (1836 μl)