IV Drip Rate Calculator

This latest IV Drip Rate Calculator allows you to calculate medication infusion flow rate based on patient body weight with or without IV Pump.

IV Drip Rate

Flow rate calculator provide assistance in calculating accurate rates of medication administration.

This is a general formula to administer medications in a weight-based infusion rate. It is a useful tool to determine the rate of pump medication infusion to achieve therapeutic dosing.

IV Drip Rate Formula

Order is written as mg/kg/hr

When written as mg/hr

Order is written as mg/kg/min

Example (mg/hr)

Drug Order is written as mg/hr.

Example:

Order: Fentanyl 5 mg/hr. The bag is labeled 250 mg in 500 ml of solution.

How fast will the IV need to be infused to give the correct dose?

Sol:

Desired = 5 mg/hr
Have = 250mg/500ml
Flow rate (ml/hr) = ?

IV Rate= (5 x 500)/250

Answer: IV Drip rate = 10 ml/hr

Example (mg/kg/ml)

Order is written as unit of mcg/kg/min.

Example:

Dopamine order: 5 mcg/kg/min. Bag is labeled:. Dopamine 400 mg in 250ml

NS. Pt weight= 63 kg.

Sol:

Desired = 5 mcg/kg/min

60min/hr

PT weight = 63 kg

400mg x 1000= 400000mcg

Have = 400000mcg/250ml

Flow rate (ml/hr) = ?

IV Rate= (5 x 250x 63 x 60)/400000

IV Rate= 4725000/400000

Answer: IV Rate= 11.8 ml/hr

General Tips

Allows you to calculate IV dose in ml, ml/hour, ml/minute, gtts(drops)/minute

Find:

Ordered dose in mg, microgram
Find ordered dose in mg/hour, mg/minute, microgram/hour, microgram/minute
Ordered dose in mg/kg/hour, mg/kg/minute, unit/kg/hour, unit/kg/minute, microgram/kg/hour, microgram/kg/minute

With or without IV Pump

General Tips

Check that your answer makes sense clinically.
Triple check your work.
Have a colleague or pharmacist check your work.
Know general therapeutic drug doses for commonly administered medications.

How to use IV Drip Rate Calculator

When Ordered dose: in mg

IV Pump: Yes
Weight: Off
Enter ordered dose select unit.
Enter Available dose and available volume
Click on calculate to find out
1. IV Medication in ml

Ordered dose: in mg/hr or mg/min

IV Pump: Yes (In absense of IV Pump select “no” and also select Drop Factor) otherwisae “Yes”
Weight: Off
Enter ordered dose select unit (e.g.mg/hour).
Enter Available dose & select unit and available volume (in ml)
Click on calculate to find out
1. IV drip rate in ml/minute, ml/hour or gtts(drops)/minute

Ordered dose: in mg/hr or mg/min

IV Pump: Yes (In absense of IV Pump select “no” and also select Drop Factor) otherwisae “Yes”
Select a weight unit and enter weight.
Enter ordered dose select unit (e.g.mg/kg/hour).
Enter Available dose & select unit and available volume (in ml)
Click on calculate to find out
1. IV drip rate in ml/minute, ml/hour or gtts(drops)/minute

Click Here to calculate maintenance fluid.