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Dosage Formula:
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The basic dosage calculation formula (Dose = Rate × Weight) is fundamental in medication administration, especially for weight-based medications. It ensures patients receive the correct amount of medication based on their individual weight.
The calculator uses the simple equation:
Where:
Explanation: The equation multiplies the prescribed rate (amount of medication per kilogram of body weight) by the patient's actual weight to determine the total dose.
Details: Proper dosage calculation is critical for medication safety. Underdosing may lead to ineffective treatment, while overdosing can cause toxicity. Weight-based dosing is particularly important for pediatric patients and medications with narrow therapeutic windows.
Tips: Enter the prescribed rate in mg/kg and the patient's weight in kg. Both values must be positive numbers. The calculator will compute the total dose in milligrams.
Q1: When is weight-based dosing used?
A: Commonly used for pediatric medications, chemotherapy, critical care drugs, and medications with narrow therapeutic indices.
Q2: Should actual or ideal body weight be used?
A: It depends on the medication. Some drugs use actual weight, others use ideal body weight or adjusted body weight, especially for obese patients.
Q3: How should weight be measured?
A: Use the most recent accurate weight measurement. For pediatric patients, weight should be measured without clothing or diaper.
Q4: Are there exceptions to this simple formula?
A: Yes, some medications require more complex calculations considering body surface area, renal function, or other factors.
Q5: How should the dose be rounded?
A: Follow medication-specific guidelines. Generally round to the nearest whole number for tablets and to one decimal place for liquid medications.