Dosage Calculations for EMS Providers (Part 3) Ray Taylor Valencia Community College Department of Emergency Medical Services

Dosage Calculations  Diluting and Titration of Medications –Definitions  Dilution of drugs = adds volume to a medication to provide the user with better control  Titration of drugs = Administration of a medication to the desired effect

Dosage Calculations  Example: Morphine Sulfate (MS) –Standard Supply 10mg/ml –Create a 1:1 ratio (i.e., 1mg in each ml) –10mg/1ml = add 9ml of sterile water or saline  New supply = 10mg/10ml or 1mg/ml

Dosage Calculations  Medication Infusion (IV Piggyback Meds) –Example Problem 1  Order: Lidocaine 2mg/min  Supply: Lidocaine 1gm/250ml –Example Problem 2  Order: Nitroglycerin 10mcg/min  Supply: 25mg/250ml

Dosage Calculations  Medication Infusion (IV Piggyback Meds) –Example Problem 3  Order: Dopamine 5mcg/Kg/min  Supply: Dopamine 400mg/250ml  Patient wt. 180lbs

Dosage Calculations  Assignment –Complete the practice problems on pages 17 – 22 in the dosage calculations workbook