In: Nursing
A physician orders 5 mL of phenobarbital elixir for a patient with seizures caused by meningitis. It is available as 0.03 gram per 7.5 mL. How many mg does the patient receive?
Answer
Ordered dose = 5 ml
Available dose = 0.03 gram / 7.5 ml i.e. 30 mg / 7.5 ml
We can calculate the dose as follows
30 mg = 7.5 ml
X mg = 5 ml
By cross multiplication, 30 mg x 5 ml = X mg x 7.5 ml
i.e. X = 30 x 5 / 7.5 = 20
5 ml contains 20 mg.
It can also be calculated as
30 mg = 7.5 ml
1ml = 30 / 7.5 = 4mg
Hence 5 ml contains 20 mg (4 x 5 = 20).
The patient receives 20 mg of medicine.