DOSAGE CALCULATION PRACTICE PROBLEMS

1. The order is to give 60 mg of Garamycin (gentamicin) IM every 8hr. The vial is

labeled 80 mg/ 2 mL. How many mL will you give?_______________
? mL = 2mL/80 mg X 60 mg/(1) = 12/8 = 1.5 mL
2. The patient is to receive 65 Units of a drug. The vial is labeled 50 Units per 2 mL.
How many mL will you give?__________
? mL = 2 mL/50 units X 65 units/(1) = 130/50 = 2.6 mL
3.The patient is to receive 0.6 g of a drug. How many mg will you give?__________
? mg = 1000 mg/1 g X 0.6 g/(1) = 600/1 = 600 mg
4.The patient received 400 mL of fluid. How many L did she receive?__________
? L = 1 L/1000 mL X 400 mL/(fluid) = 4/10 = 0.4 L
6.The patient weighs 160 pounds. How many Kg does he weigh?__________
? kg = 1 kg/2.2 lbs X 160 lbs/(patient) = 160/2.2 = 72.7 kg
8.The patient is to receive 50 mg of a drug. How many g will you give? ________
? g = 1 g/1000 mg X 50 mg/(drug) = 5/100 = 0.05 g
9.The physician has ordered 300 mg of a drug. The vial is labeled 150 mg / 2 mL.
How many mL will you give?__________
? mL = 2 mL/150 mg X 300 mg/(some drug) = 60/15 = 4 mL
10. If the patient receives 45 mL of a drug, How many ounces does he
receive?__________
? ozs = 1 oz/30 mL X 45 mL/(drug) = 45/30 = 1.5 oz
11. You have an order to give 120 Units of Vitamin D. If the vitamin comes in
capsules containing 60 Units, how many capsules will you give?__________
? caps = 1 cap/60 units X 120 units/(Vit.D) = 12/6= 2 capsules
12. The patient is to receive 450 mg of an antibiotic. The vial contains a powder to be

reconstituted. The label of the vial reads: Kefzol (cefazolin) 1 g. To reconstitute:

Add 2.5 mL sterile water for injection to provide a volume of 3mL. How many
mL of solution are needed to provide the patient with the prescribed
dose?__________
? mL = 3 mL/1 g X 1 g/1000 mg X 450 mg/(some ABX) = 135/100 = 1.4 mL
13. You have an order of 5 mg / kg dose of medication for a patient weighing 22
pounds. How many mg will you give?__________
? mg = 5 mg/kg X 1 kg/2.2 lbs X 22 lbs/(patient) = 110/2.2 = 50 mg
15. The doctor orders 5 mg of Valium (diazepam) for the patient. The vial reads:
20 mg per 2 mL How many mL will you give?__________
? mL = 2 mL/20 mg X 5 mg/(Valium) = 10/20 = 0.5 mL
16. The patient is to receive 500 mL of D5W over 6 hours . What is the drip rate per
minute if the tubing provides 12 gtts per mL?__________
? gtts/min = 12 gtts/1 mL X 500 mL/6 hrs X 1 hr/60 mins = 600/36 = 16.7 = 17 gtts/min
17. The patient is to be given 20 units of a drug. The vial is labeled 50 units/ 2 mL.
How many mL will you give?__________
? mL = 2 mL/50 units X 20 units/(drug) = 4/5 = 0.8 mL
18. The patient has an order for 1.2 g of a drug. How many mg will you give?
__________
? mg = 1000 mg X 1.2 g/(drug) = 1200/1 = 1200 mg
20. The patient is to receive 40 mg of a drug in 50 mL of NS (Sodium Chloride) over
one half hour. What is the drip rate per minute if the tubing provides 15 gtts per
ml?_________
? gtts/min = 15 gtts/1 mL X 50 mL/30 mins = 75/3 = 25 gtts/min
21. The patient has Demerol 75 mg ordered. for complaint of pain. The drug is

available as 50 mg per 1 mL. How many mL __________

? mL = 1 mL/50 mg X 75 mg/(Demerol) = 75/50 = 1.5 mL
23. A drug comes packaged as 10,000 Units/2 mL. The order for your patient is
6,500 Units. How many mL will you give?__________
? mL = 2 mL/10,000 units X 6,500 units/ (drug ordered) = 130/100 = 1.3 mL
24. An IV of 5% Dextrose in Water (D5W) 500 mL is ordered to infuse over 6 hours.
What will the rate per hour be?__________
? mL/hr = 500 mL/6 hrs = 83.3 mL/hr
25. The order is 5% Dextrose in Water (D5W) 250 mL to infuse over 4 hours. How
much per hour should be infused?__________
? mL / hr = 250 mL/4 hrs = 62.5 mL/ hr
26. A drug comes packaged as 5,000 Units per mL and you must give 4,000 Units.
How many mL will you administer?_____________
? mL = 1 mL/5000 units X 4000 units/(1) = 4/5 = 0.8 mL
27. A drug is ordered at 500 mg IV every 6 hr. When 2 mL of dilutent is added to
the 500 mg vial, each mL equals 200 mg. How many mL will you give?
_________
? mL = 1 mL/200 mg X 500 mg/(drug) = 500/200 = 2.5 mL
28. You are to give 350 mg po of a drug. The stock supply is 0.5 g/tablet. How many
tablets will you give?____________
? tablets = 1 tab/0.5 g X 1 g/1000 mg X 350 mg/(drug) = 350/500 = 0.7 tablets
29. The doctor has ordered 0.6g of a drug. Pharmacy has supplied 300 mg tablets.
How many tablets will you give?_________________
? tablets = 1 tab/300 mg X 1000 mg/1 g X 0.6 g/(drug) = 600/300 = 2 tablets
30. You have an order of 3mg/kg per dose of medication for a patient weighing 11

pounds. How many mg will you give per dose?_______________

? mg = 3 mg/kg X 1 kg/2.2 lbs X 11 lbs/(patient) = 33/2.2 = 15 mg
31. The doctor orders Valium (diazepam) 4mg IV every 6 hrs prn restlessness. The
vial is labeled 10 mg /2 mL. How many mL will you administer?
_________________
? mL = 2 mL/10 mg X 4 mg/(Valium) = 8/10 = 0.8 mL
32. The doctor orders a 4 mg/kg per dose of a drug for a 24 pound child. How many
mg do you administer? ________________
? mg = 4 mg/kg X 1 kg/2.2 lbs X 24 lbs/(child) = 96/2.2 = 43.6 mg
33. The patient is to receive Ampicillin, 50 mg, in 100 mL of NS (Sodium Chloride)
over one half hour. What is the drip rate per minute if the tubing provides 12 gtts
per mL?_____________
? gtts/min = 12 gtts/1 mL X 100 mL/30 mins = 1200/30 = 40 gtts/min
34. The patient is to receive 500 mL of D5W over 8 hours . What is the drip rate per
minute if the tubing provides 12 gtts per mL? __________
? gtts/min = 12 gtts/1 mL X 500 mL/8 hrs X 1 hr/60 mins = 6000/480 = 13 gtts/min
36. You are to give 300 mg of a drug. The drug is labeled 150 mg/2 mL. How many
mL will you give? __________
? mL = 2 mL/150 mg X 300 mg/(drug) = 600/150 = 4 mL
37. You are to give 100 mg of a drug. The drug is available in 50 mg/2 mL. How
many mL will you give? ____________________
? mL = 2 mL/50 mg X 100 mg/(drug) = 20/5 = 4 mL
38. You are to give 90 Units of a vitamin every day. The vitamin comes in capsules
containing 30 Units each. How many capsules will you give?
__________________

? capsules = 1 caps/30 units X 90 units/Vit = 9/3 = 3 capsules

39. If the dose for a medication is 13 mg/kg, what is the dose for a patient that
weighs 56 pounds?__________________
? mg = 13 mg/kg X 1 kg/2.2 lbs X 56 lbs/(patient) = 728/2.2 = 330.9 mg
40. The patient received 90 mL of a drug. How many ounces did he receive?
___________________
? oz = 1 oz/30 mL X 90 mL/(drug) = 9/3 = 3 oz

43. The patient weighs 280 pounds. How many kg does the patient weigh?
? kg = 1 kg/2.2 lbs. X 290 lbs/(patient) = 127.3 kg
44. If the dose for a medication is 0.3 mg/kg, what is the dose for a child that weighs
26 pounds?__________
? mg = 0.3 mg/kg X 1 kg/2.2 lbs X 26 lbs/(child) = 7.8/2.2 = 3.5 mg
45. The physician orders 25 Units of a drug. The vial is labeled 100 Units/ 2 mL.
How many mL will you administer? ________________
? mL = 2 mL/100 units X 25 units/(drug) = 50/100 = 0.5 mL
46. A child weighing 42 pounds has an order for Morphine 0.05 mg/kg SQ. How
many mg will you give?______________
? mg = 0.05 mg/kg X 1 kg/2.2 lbs X 42 lbs/(child) = 2.1/2.2 = 1 mg
47. A patient received two 250 mg tablets. How many g did the patient receive?
________________
? g = 1 g/1000 mg X 250 mg/1 tab X 2 tabs/(received) = 500/100 = 0.5 g
48. A patient who weighs 74 pounds has an order for Advil (ibuprofen) 3.5 mg/kg
every 6 hours. How many mg will you give in a single dose?______________
? mg = 3.5 mg/kg X 1 kg/2.2 lbs X 74 lbs/(patient) = 259/2.2 = 117.7 mg

49. The doctor has ordered 0.4 g of a drug. How many mg of the drug will you give?
_________________
? mg = 1000 mg/1 g X 0.4 g/(drug) = 400 mg
50. The patient is to receive 1.8 g of a drug. This is how many mg? __________
? mg = 1000 mg/1 g X 1.8 g/(drug) = 1800 mg
51. A 15 pound child has an order for an antibiotic for 55 mg/kg/every 6 hours. The
antibiotic comesas 1 g/25 mL. What is the amount of a single
dose?________________
? mL = 25 mL/1 g X 1 g/1000 mg X 55 mg/kg X 1 kg/2.2 lbs X 15 lbs/(child) = 20,625/2,200 = 9.4 mL
52. A patient who weighs 196 pounds has an order for a medication dose to be given
at 25 mg/kg/day. How many g per day will you give?_________________
? g/day = 1 g/1000 mg X 25/kg/day X 1 kg/2.2 lbs X 196 lbs/(patient) = 4900/2200 = 2.2 g/day
53. A 175 pound patient has an order for an analgesic of 12 mg/kg every 4 hours.
How many mg is in each dose?_____________
? mg = 12 mg/kg X 1 kg/2.2 lbs X 175 lbs/(patient) = 2100/2.2 = 954.5 mg
54. An antibiotic is ordered for a child weighing 12.4 kg. The drug label reads 1 g/2.5 mL
and the dose range is 100 mg/kg/day. What is the dose of medication for this patient
per day?______________
? mL/day = 2.5 mL/1 g X 1 g/1000 mg X 100 mg/kg/day X 12.4 kg/(child) = 3100/1000 = 3.1 mL/day
55. A patient who weighs 76 kg has an order for an antibiotic for 100 mg/kg/day
every 6 hours. The antibiotic comes as 1 g/25 mL. What is the amount of a
single dose?___________
? mL/dose = 25 mL/1 g X 1 g/1000 mg X 100 mg/kg/day X 76 kg/(patient) X 1 day/1 dose = 11,400/240 =
47.5 mL/dose
56. A medication has been ordered for a patient who weighs 23.4 kg. The therapeutic
range is 250mg/kg/day. The drug comes as 3.5g/100mL. How many mL is the

therapeutic daily dosage for this patient?__________________

? mL/day = 100 mL/3.5 g X 1 g/1000 mg X 250 mg/kg/day X 23.4 kg/(patient) = 585/3.5 = 167.1 mL/day
57. The recommended maximum dosage of a drug is 2 mg/kg/day. What is the
maximum dosage per day for a child who weighs 35 pounds?_________
? mg/day = 2 mg/kg/day X 1 kg/2.2 lbs X 35 lbs/(child) = 70/2.2 = 31.8 mg/day
58. The safe dosage of a drug is 7.5 mg/kg/day IV given q8h. What is the safe daily
dosage for a child weighing 40 pounds?_________
? mg/day = 7.5 mg/kg/day X 1 kg/2.2 lbs X 40 lbs/(child) = 300/2.2 = 136.4 mg/day
59. The recommended safe maximum dosage of a drug is 7 mg/kg/day. What is the
safe maximum dosage per day for a child who weighs 25 pounds?_________
? mg/day = 7 mg/kg/day X 1 kg/2.2 lbs X 25 lbs/(child) = 175/2.2 = 79.5 mg.day
60. An antibiotic is ordered for a child weighing 42.4kg. The drug label reads 1g/2.5
mL and the therapeutic dose range is 125mg/kg/day. How many mL will this
patient receive per day?______________________
? mL/day = 2.5 mL/1 g X 1 g/1000 mg X 125 mg/kg/day X 42.4 kg/(1) = 13,250/1000 = 13.3 mL/day
61. The order is to give Geocillin (carbenicillin) IM 800 mg q6h. The vial states that
the concentration of the medication is 1 g/2.5 mL. How many mL will you
give?__________
? mL = 2.5 mL/1 g X 1 g/1000 mg X 800 mg/(drug) = 20/10 = 2 mL
63. The recommended dose for an antibiotic is 80mg/kg/day. If the patient weighs
38 kg how many mg/day should the patient receive?___________________
? mg/day = 80 mg/kg/day X 38 kg/(patient) = 3,040 mg/day
64. You have an order of 7.5 mg/kg dose of medication for a patient weighing 129
pounds. How many mg will you give?_________
? mg = 7.5 mg/kg X 1 kg/2.2 lbs X 129 lbs/(pt) = 967.5/2.2 = 439.8 mg

65. Ordered is Vancomycin, 2mg/kg IV every 24 hours. It is available as

500mg/10mL. The patient weighs 30 kg. How many mL will you give?______
? mL = 10 mL/500 mg X 2 mg/kg X 30 kg/(patient) = 5/5 = 1 mL
66. An oral liquid medication is available as 0.25 mg/10 mL and you must give a dose
of 0.125 mg. How many mL will you give?_____________________
? mL = 10 mL/0.25 mg X 0.125 mg/(dose) = 1.25/0.25 = 5 mL
67. A drug comes as 0.5 g in 1 mL and you must give 1.25 g.
How many mL will you give?_____________
? mL = 1 mL/0.5 g X 1.25 g/(drug) = 1.25/0.5 = 2.5 mL
68. A drug comes 250 mg/mL and you must give 2.25 g.
How many mL will you give?________________
? mL = 1 mL/250 mg X 1000 mg/1 g X 2.25 g/(drug) = 2,250/250 = 9 mL
69. You are to give 0.75 mg of a drug which comes as 1,000 mcg/mL. How many
mL will you give?_______________
? mL = 1 mL/1000 mcg X 1000 mcg/1 mg X 0.75 mg/(drug) = 750/1000 = 0.75 mL
70. Give Unipen (nafcillin) 500 mg IM q6h. When 3.4 mL of diluent is added to the
1 g vial, 250 mg equals 1 mL. How many mL will you give?______________
? mL = 1 mL/250 mg X 500 mg/(drug) = 500/250 = 2 mL
71. The order is for Prostaphlin (oxacillin) IM 500 mg q6h. When 2.8 mL of diluent
is added to the 500 mg vial each 250 mg equals 1.5 mL. How many mL will you
administer?_____________________
? mL = 1.5 mL/250 mg X 500 mg/(drug) = 750/250 = 3 mL
72. The patient is to receive 250 mL of 5% Dextrose in Water (D5W) every 6 hours.
What is the drip rate per minute if the tubing provides 15 gtts per
mL?__________

? gtts/min = 15 gtts/1 mL X 250 mL/6 hrs X 1 hr/60 mins = 3750/360 = 10 gtts/min

73. The patient is to receive 25mg of a drug in 100 mL of Sodium Chloride (NS) over
one and one-half hours. What is the drip rate per minute if the tubing provides 15
gtts per mL?__________
? gtts/min = 15 gtts/1 mL X 100 mL/1.5 hr X 1 hr/60 mins = 1500/90 = 17 gtts/min
74. The patient is to receive 1000 mL Lactated Ringers (RL) IV in 6 hours. What is
the drip rate per minute if the tubing provides 10 gtts per mL?__________
? gtts/min = 10 gtt/1 mL X 1000 mL/6 hrs X 1 hr/60 min = 1000/36 =28 gtts/min
75. The patient is to receive 250 cc Packed Red Blood Cells (RBCs) IV in 3 hours.
What is the drip rate per minute if the tubing provides 6 gtts per mL?_________
? gtts/min = 6 gtts/1 mL X 250 mL/3 hrs X 1 hr/60 mins = 150/18 = 8 gtts/min
76. The physician has ordered 225 mg of a drug. The vial is labeled 150mg/2 mL.
How many mL will you give?_________
? mL = 2 mL/150 mg X 225 mg/(drug) = 450/150 = 3 mL
77. The patient is to receive 650 mg of an antibiotic. The vial contains a powder to be
reconstituted. The label of the vial reads: Kefzol (cefazolin) 1 g. To reconstitute
add 2.5 mL sterile water for injection to provides a volume of 3.0 mL. How many
mL of reconstituted solution are needed to provide the patient with the prescribed
dose?__________
? mL = 3 mL/1 g X 1 g/1000 mg X 650 mg/(drug) = 195/100 = 2 mL
78. The doctor orders 7.5 mg of Valium (diazepam) for the patient. The Tubex vial
reads: 20mg/ 2 mL. How many mL will you give?__________
? mL = 2 mL/20 mg X 7.5 mg/Valium = 15/20 = 0.75 mL
79. The patient has Demerol (meperidine) 35 mg ordered. The drug is available as
50 mg/1 mL. How many mL will you give?____________

? mL = 1 mL/50 mg X 35 mg/Demerol = 35/50 = 0.7 mL

80. A drug is ordered at 500 mg IV q6h (over 6 hours). When 2.0 mL of dilutent is
added to the 500 mg vial, each mL equals 150 mg. How many mL will you
give?___________
? mL = 1 mL/150 mg X 500 mg/(drug) = 50 15 = 3.3 mL
81. The patient is to receive an antibiotic of 350 mg q6h. The label reads Ancef 1 g.
Reconstitute with 3 ml of diluent to yield 250 mg/mL. How many mL will you
give?__________
? mL = 1 mL/250 mg X 350 mg/(drug) = 35/25 = 1.4 mL
82. The patient is to receive an antibiotic of 65 mg IM q8h. The label reads
120 mg/2 mL. How many mL will you give?__________
? mL = 2 mL/120 mg X 65 mg/(drug) = 130/120 = 1.1 mL
83. The patient is to receive 20 mg IM of an antiemetic. The label reads
100 mg/ 2 mL. How many mL will you give?__________
? mL = 2 mL/100 mg X 20 mg/(drug) = 40/100 = 0.4 mL
84. The IV tubing delivers a drip rate of 10 gtts per ml. What is the drip rate for
1000 mL in 12 hours?_________
? gtts/min = 10 gtts/1 mL X 1000 mL/12 hrs X 1 hr/60 mins = 1000/72 = 14 gtts/min
85. The IV is 1,000 mL. What is the amount to be given per hour if the fluid is to be
infused in 12 hours?__________
? mL/hr = 1000 mL/12 hrs = 83.3 mL/hr
86. Give 500 ml IV over 6 hours. The tubing delivers 20gtts per mL. What is the rate
drip rate per minute?__________
? gtts/min = 20 gtts/1 mL X 500 mL/6 hrs X 1 hr/60 mins = 1000/36 = 28 gtts/min
87. If the maximum safe dose for a medication is 6 mg/kg/day. What is the maximum

safe dose for a child who weighs 17 kg?__________

? mg/day = 6 mg/kg/day X 17 kg/pt = 102 mg/day
88. Give 200 ml IV over 3 hours. The tubing drop factor is 15. What is the drop rate
per minute?___________________
? gtts/min = 15 gtts/1 mL X 200 mL/3 hrs X 1 hr/60 mins = 300/18 = 17 gtts/min
89. Give 60 ml IV over 1 hour. The tubing drop factor is 60 gtts/mL What is the drop
rate per minute?__________
? gtts/min = 60 gtts/1 mL X 60 mL/1 hr X 1 hr/60 mins = 360/6 = 60 gtts/min
90. A patient with pneumonia weighs 26.9 kg. If the recommended dose for a
specific antibiotic is 75 mg/kg/day, what is the recommended daily dose for this
patient?__________
? mg/day = 75 mg/kg/day X 26.9 kg/(pt) = 2,017.5 mg/day
91. Give Heparin 2000 U sub-q from a vial labeled 10,000 U/mL. How many mL
will you give?__________
? mL = 1 mL/10,000 units X 2000 units/Heparin = 2000/10,000 = 0.2 mL
92. Give 40 mg of Lasix (furosemide) IV. Available as 10mg/mL Give each 10 mg
over 60 seconds. How much will you give? How long will it take you to
administer the drug?_________
? mL = 1 mL/10 mg X 40 mg/Lasix = 40/10 = 4 mL
? mL/min = 4 mL/40 mg X 10 mg/1 min = 40/40 = 1 mL/min = 4 mins
93. Give Librium (chlordiazepoxide) 25 mg. When the 50 mg vial is diluted with 5
ml of sterile diluent, each mL equals 5 mg. How many mL will you
give?__________
? mL = 1 mL/5 mg X 25 mg/(drug) = 25/5 = 5 mL
94. Ordered: Robinul (glycopyrrolate) 200 mcg IM. Available as 0.2 mg/mL. How

many mL will you give?__________

? mL = 1 mL/0.2 mg X 1 mg/1000 mcg X 200 mcg/(drug) = 2/2 = 1 mL
95. Give Sparine (promazine HCl) 12.5 mg. Available as 0.025 g/mL. How many
mL will you give?__________
? mL = 1 mL/0.025 g X 1 g/1000 mg X 12.5 mg/(drug) = 12.5/25 = 0.5 mL
96. Give Pronestyl (procainamide HCl) 200 mg. The drug is available as
0.5 g/ mL. How many mL will you give?__________
? mL = 1 mL/0.5 g X 1 g/1000 mg X 200 mg/(drug) = 2/5 = 0.4 mL
97. Give Mysoline (primidone) 0.1 g po from a bottle labeled Mysoline 250 mg/5mL.
How many mL will you give?__________
? mL = 5 mL/250 mg X 1000 mg/1 g X 0.1 g/(drug) = 50/25 = 2 mL
98. If the maximum safe dose for a medication is 5 mg/kg/day, what is the maximum
safe dose for a child who weighs 12.4 kg?__________
? mg/day = 5 mg/kg/day X 12.4 kg/(child) = 62 mg/day
99. Give Elixir Benadryl (diphenhydramine) 10 mg from a bottle labeled Elixir
Benadryl 12.5 mg/5mL. How many mL will you give?__________
? mL = 5 mL/12.5 mg X 10 mg/(drug) = 50/12.5 = 4 mL
100. Give Declomycin (demeclocycline) 0.3 g q12h. Each capsules is labeled
Declomycin 150 mg. How many capsules will you give with each dose?
? capsules = 1 caps/150 mg X 1000 mg/1 g X 0.3 g/(drug) = 30/15 = 2 capsules