Dopamine calculations

Straight-up Calculation Method

Mix
400 mg/250 ml (double strength)
200 mg/250 ml (single strength)

1. We need to find out the concentration.

2. How many milligrams of medication in 1 ml?
(This is written on the packaging.)

1.6 mg/ml (Double) 1600 mcg/ml

0.8 mg/ml (Single) 800 mcg/ml

Double strength dopamine is:

400 mg/250 ml
1.6 mg/ml = 1600 mcg/ml

Single strength dopamine is:

200 mg/250 ml
0.8 mg/ml = 800 mcg/ml
Example

Order x weight (kg) x drip factor (gtts/ml)

1.6 mg/ml

Order= 5mcg/kg/min
Weight = 80kg
Double strength= 1600mcg/ml
Drip factor = 60 gtts/ml

5 mcg/kg/min x 80 kg x 60 gtts/ml
1.6 mg/ml

5 mcg/kg/min x 80 kg x 60 gtts/ml
1600 mcg/ml

15 gtts/min
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
How many drops (gtts) is that with the buretrol?
“15 gtts/min“
15 gtts/60 seconds

15 gtts/60 seconds (Ratio is 1:4)

1 gtts every 4 seconds
Example

Order x weight (kg) x drip factor (gtts/ml)

0.8 mg/ml

Order = 5 mcg/kg/min
Weight = 80 kg
Single strength = 800 mcg/ml
Drip factor = 60 gtts/ml

5 mcg/kg/min x 80 kg x 60 gtts/ml
0.8 mg/ml

5 mcg/kg/min x 80 kg x 60 gtts/ml
800 mcg/ml

30 gtts/min
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
How many drops (gtts) is that with the buretrol?
“30 gtts/min“
30 gtts/60 seconds

30 gtts/60 seconds (Ratio is 1:2)

1 gtts every 2 seconds
 Chart Method (Approximation)
Single strength Drips Double strength
800 mcg/ml gtts 1600 mcg/ml
800 60 1600
400 30 800
200 15 400
160 12 320
120 9 240
80 6 160
40 3 80

This chart works when you know your weight of patient and the order

Example #1

Order = 5 mcg/kg/min

Weight = 80 kg

Single strength dopamine = 800 mcg/ml

5 mcg/kg/min x 80 kg = 400 mcg/min = ?? gtts/minute

So if you were using single strength dopamine you would go down the
chart to 400 mcg/ml and follow over to the gtts which is 30. Therefore
your 80 kg patient @ 5mcg/kg/min would receive 30 gtts/minute,
which is 1 gtts every 2 seconds.
Example #2

Order = 5 mcg/kg/min

Weight = 120 kg

Single strength dopamine = 800 mcg/ml

5 mcg/kg/min x 120 kg = 600 mcg/min = ?? gtts/minute

So if you were using single strength dopamine you would go down the
single strength side of the chart and find the numbers that would add
up to 600. You would then follow over to the gtts and add the gtts that
follow in line with the previous numbers. Therefore your 120 kg patient
with an order of 5 mcg/kg/min would receive 30 + 15 = 45 gtts/minute,
which is ~1gtts every 1 second.

Single strength Drips Double strength

800 mcg/ml gtts 1600 mcg/ml
800 60 1600
400 30 800
200 15 400
160 12 320
120 9 240
80 6 160
40 3 80
 Plus 5 Plus 2 Method (Approximation)
All you need to remember is a set of starting numbers. The premise is
based solely on Single Strength concentration and a starting dose of
5 mcg/kg/min.

The patient that weighs 80 kg would receive 30 gtts/minute at 5

mcg/min.

For every 5 kg over the 80 kg patient, you will add 2 gtts

And conversely, for every 5 kg under the 80 kg patient, you will

subtract 2 gtts

Example #1

80 kg patient is baseline 80 kg + 5 kg + 5 kg = 90 kg patient

30 gtts is the baseline 30 gtts + 2 gtts + 2 gtts = 34 gtts

Example #2

80 kg patient is baseline 80 kg – 5 kg – 5 kg = 70 kg patient

30 gtts is the baseline 30 gtts – 2 gtts – 2 gtts = 26 gtts

Clock Method (Approximation)
The clock method works off the same principle as the Chart Method.
You need to know your patient’s weight and the orders.

Outside RED numbers = double strength

Inside BLUE numbers = single strength

Core numbers in BLACK and the PURPLE stars are the gtts

Example #1

Order = 5 mcg/kg/min

Weight = 80 kg

5 mcg/kg/min x 80 kg = 400 mcg/min = ?? gtts/minute

So if you were using single strength dopamine you would go around the
clock to the blue numbers and locate the 400 mcg/ml and follow into
center of the clock to identify the number of gtts which is 30. Therefore
your 80 kg patient @ 5mcg/kg/min would receive 30 gtts/minute,
which is 1 gtts every 2 seconds.
 1600

800

57 3
60
9
51

1200 400
45 15
600 200

39 21
80030
33 27

400

800
Pocketbook Reference