Dopamine infusion chart for 800mg in 500mL of NS (1600mg/mL)

Note infusion rates are listed in mL/hr

 

 ____________________                                           mg/kg/min

 

kg

lbs

2

5

10

15

20

 

40

88

3.0

7.5

15.0

22.5

30.0

 

45

99

3.4

8.4

16.8

25.2

33.6

 

50

110

3.8

9.4

18.8

28.2

37.6

 

55

121

4.1

10.3

20.6

30.9

41.2

 

60

132

4.5

11.3

22.6

33.9

45.2

 

65

143

4.9

12.2

24.4

36.6

28.8

 

70

154

5.3

13.1

26.2

39.3

52.4

 

75

165

5.6

14.1

28.2

42.3

57.6

 

80

176

6.0

15.0

30.0

45.0

60.0

 

85

187

6.4

15.9

31.8

47.7

63.6

 

90

198

6.8

16.9

33.8

50.7

67.6

 

95

209

7.1

17.8

35.6

53.4

71.2

 

100

220

7.5

18.8

37.6

56.4

75.2

 

105

231

7.9

19.7

39.4

59.1

78.8

 

110

242

8.3

20.6

41.2

61.8

82.4

 

 

Infusion rates as above should be administered with either a Dial-A-Flow or infusion pump.  The type of administration set does not matter.

 

Example:  Administer a dopamine infusion to an 80kg (176lbs) individual using the standard dopamine concentration of 1600mg/mL at a rate of 5mg/kg/min.  You should prepare this drip by adding 800mg of dopamine to a 500mL bag of 0.9% saline solution (normal saline).  What rate should you set your Dial-A-Flow if you are using a 10gtt/mL administration set.

 

Answer:  According to the chart the answer is 15.0mL/hr

 

Proof: 

            Step 1:  Calculating gtt/min

 

            gtt/min = (5mg/kg/min)(80kg)(500mL)(10gtt/mL)          =  2.5gtt/min

                                                800,000 mg

 

            Step 2:  Convert gtt/min into mL/hr

 

            m/hr = (2.5gtt/min)(60min/1hr)  = 15mL/hr                   Like Magic, It Works!

                                    10gtt/mL