Norepinephrine Dose mcg/kg/min Calculator Online

The calculator helps healthcare professionals determine the right dose of norepinephrine by considering the patient's weight, the drug’s concentration in the infusion solution, and the infusion rate. Accurate dosing is crucial, as too little norepinephrine may not adequately treat hypotension or shock, while too much can lead to dangerous side effects, including severe hypertension and arrhythmias.

Formula of Norepinephrine Dose mcg/kg/min Calculator

The formula to calculate the norepinephrine dose in micrograms per kilogram per minute (mcg/kg/min) is straightforward:

Dose (mcg/kg/min) = (Infusion rate (mL/hr) * Concentration (mcg/mL)) / (Weight (kg) * 60)

• Infusion rate (mL/hr): The volume of the infusion solution administered per hour.
• Concentration (mcg/mL): The amount of norepinephrine in each milliliter of the solution.
• Weight (kg): The body weight of the patient, which is critical in calculating the dose per kg.
• Number 60: This converts the rate from per hour to per minute, as there are 60 minutes in an hour.

Clinical Guidelines for Norepinephrine Dosing

Norepinephrine dosing must be tailored to the individual patient's needs and closely monitored. Here are general guidelines:

• Hypotension:
  • Initial dose: 8-12 mcg/min
  • Maintenance dose: 2-4 mcg/min
• Sepsis (Society of Critical Care Medicine):
  • Dose range: 0.01-3 mcg/kg/min
• Cardiac Arrest (American Heart Association):
  • Initial dose: 8-12 mcg/min
  • Maintenance dose: 2-4 mcg/min
  • Titration: 0.1-0.5 mcg/kg/min, adjusted based on patient response

It is essential to start with a lower dose and titrate up based on clinical effect and blood pressure monitoring.

Usage Table

Here is a quick reference table for healthcare providers:

Patient Weight (kg)	Condition	Infusion Rate (mL/hr)	Concentration (mcg/mL)	Calculated Dose (mcg/kg/min)
70	Hypotension	50	4	0.48
70	Sepsis	100	0.1	0.024
70	Cardiac Arrest	25	16	0.96

Example of Norepinephrine Dose mcg/kg/min Calculator

Example 1: Hypotension

Consider a 70 kg patient needing norepinephrine for hypotension:

• Infusion rate: 50 mL/hr
• Concentration: 4 mcg/mL

Using the formula:

Dose = (50 * 4) / (70 * 60) = 0.48 mcg/kg/min

This dose should be monitored and adjusted based on the patient's blood pressure and clinical response.

Example 2: Sepsis

For the same patient in a septic condition:

• Infusion rate: 100 mL/hr
• Concentration: 0.1 mcg/mL

Calculation:

Dose = (100 * 0.1) / (70 * 60) = 0.024 mcg/kg/min

This low dose reflects the cautious approach needed in sepsis to avoid exacerbating the condition.

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