Inotrope & Vasopressor Dosage Calculator
Critical care calculator for IV infusion rates (mL/hr) and dosages (mcg/kg/min). Features reverse calculation and standard drug concentrations.
About
In critical care settings, the precise administration of vasoactive medications is a high-stakes task. Errors in calculation can lead to hemodynamic instability, making accuracy non-negotiable for ICU nurses and physicians. This tool serves as a fail-safe mechanism to cross-verify infusion pump settings against prescribed dosages.
The calculator supports bidirectional computation. It determines the flow rate in mL/hr based on a weight-based dose, or conversely, interprets the effective dose from a running flow rate. It includes a database of standard concentrations to minimize manual data entry risks, though custom concentrations are fully supported for non-standard mixtures.
Formulas
The fundamental equation links patient weight, prescribed dose, and solution concentration to the pump flow rate. Note that 1 mg = 1000 mcg.
For reverse calculation (determining the dose from a known flow rate):
Reference Data
| Drug | Standard Concentration | Typical Dose Range | Receptor/Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dopamine | 400 mg / 250 mL (1600 mcg/mL) | 2 - 20 mcg/kg/min | Alpha, Beta-1, Dopaminergic |
| Dobutamine | 500 mg / 250 mL (2000 mcg/mL) | 2 - 20 mcg/kg/min | Beta-1 Agonist |
| Norepinephrine | 4 mg / 250 mL (16 mcg/mL) | 0.01 - 3.0 mcg/kg/min | Alpha-1 (Potent vasoconstrictor) |
| Epinephrine | 4 mg / 250 mL (16 mcg/mL) | 0.01 - 1.0 mcg/kg/min | Alpha, Beta-1, Beta-2 |
| Phenylephrine | 20 mg / 250 mL (80 mcg/mL) | 0.5 - 9.0 mcg/kg/min | Pure Alpha-1 |
| Milrinone | 20 mg / 100 mL (200 mcg/mL) | 0.375 - 0.75 mcg/kg/min | PDE3 Inhibitor |
| Vasopressin | 20 units / 100 mL (0.2 units/mL) | 0.01 - 0.04 units/min | V1 Receptor |
| Nitroglycerin | 50 mg / 250 mL (200 mcg/mL) | 5 - 200 mcg/min | Vasodilator (Venous) |