Dosage Calculations

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Medical Dosage Calculator

Calculate the volume or amount to administer based on the prescribed dose and concentration.

Dosage Result:

Understanding Medication Dosage Calculations

Dosage calculation is a fundamental skill in nursing and healthcare, ensuring that patients receive the exact amount of medication prescribed. Accurate calculations prevent medication errors, which are critical for patient safety.

The Formula: (Desired Dose ÷ Dose on Hand) × Quantity = Amount to Administer

Key Components of the Formula

  • Desired Dose (D): This is the amount of medication that the physician has ordered (e.g., 500 mg).
  • Dose on Hand (H): This is the strength of the medication that is currently available in the pharmacy or stock (e.g., 250 mg).
  • Quantity (Q): Also known as the vehicle, this is the form in which the medication is supplied (e.g., 1 tablet, 5 mL of liquid).
  • Amount to Administer (A): The final volume or number of tablets you will give to the patient.

Example Calculation

Scenario: A doctor orders 750 mg of Amoxicillin. The pharmacy provides the medication in a concentration of 250 mg per 5 mL.

Calculation:

  1. Identify Desired Dose (D): 750 mg
  2. Identify Dose on Hand (H): 250 mg
  3. Identify Quantity (Q): 5 mL
  4. (750 / 250) = 3
  5. 3 × 5 mL = 15 mL

Important Safety Tips

Always double-check your units. If the prescribed dose is in grams (g) but the medication on hand is in milligrams (mg), you must convert the units so they match before using the formula. Remember: 1g = 1,000mg.

If you are calculating tablets, usually you can only split them if they are scored. If your result is 1.25 tablets and the tablet is not scored for quarters, you must consult with the pharmacist or provider.

function calculateMedicalDosage() { var d = parseFloat(document.getElementById('desiredDose').value); var h = parseFloat(document.getElementById('doseOnHand').value); var q = parseFloat(document.getElementById('quantity').value); var unit = document.getElementById('unitType').value || "units"; var resultArea = document.getElementById('resultArea'); var resultOutput = document.getElementById('resultOutput'); var dosageExplanation = document.getElementById('dosageExplanation'); if (isNaN(d) || isNaN(h) || isNaN(q) || h <= 0) { alert("Please enter valid positive numbers for the Dose and Quantity fields."); return; } var amountToAdminister = (d / h) * q; // Rounding to 2 decimal places for precision var formattedResult = Math.round(amountToAdminister * 100) / 100; resultArea.style.display = "block"; resultOutput.innerHTML = formattedResult + " " + unit; dosageExplanation.innerHTML = "Based on the formula: (" + d + " / " + h + ") × " + q + " = " + formattedResult + " " + unit + "."; }

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