Mg/kg/min Formula:
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Mg per kg per min is a unit of measurement used in medical dosing to calculate the amount of medication administered per kilogram of body weight per minute. It's commonly used for continuous infusions of medications.
The calculator uses the formula:
Where:
Explanation: This calculation converts an hourly medication dose to a weight-based per-minute rate, which is important for precise medication dosing in critical care settings.
Details: Accurate calculation of mg/kg/min is crucial for safe medication administration, especially for drugs with narrow therapeutic windows like vasoactive medications, sedatives, and anticoagulants.
Tips: Enter the dose rate in mg/h and the patient's weight in kg. Both values must be positive numbers. The calculator will automatically compute the mg/kg/min value.
Q1: Why is mg/kg/min important in medication administration?
A: It allows for precise, weight-based dosing that accounts for individual patient differences, which is especially important for medications with narrow therapeutic ranges.
Q2: What types of medications are typically dosed in mg/kg/min?
A: This dosing method is commonly used for continuous infusions of critical care medications like vasopressors, inotropes, sedatives, and anticonvulsants.
Q3: How does this differ from mcg/kg/min dosing?
A: Mg/kg/min is used for medications administered in milligram quantities, while mcg/kg/min is used for more potent medications administered in microgram quantities. The calculation principle is the same, just with different units.
Q4: When should I use this calculation?
A: Use this calculation when you need to verify or calculate infusion rates for medications that are prescribed based on patient weight and administered as continuous infusions.
Q5: Are there any limitations to this calculation?
A: This calculation assumes a constant infusion rate and doesn't account for loading doses, titration changes, or variations in patient metabolism. Always follow specific medication protocols and consult with a pharmacist when in doubt.