Administration of digitalis, a drug used to control atrial fibrilla-tion in heart patients, must be carefully controlled because even a modest overdose can be fatal. To take differences between patients into account, drug dosages are prescribed in terms of mg/kg body weight. Thus, a child and an adult differ greatly in weight, but both receive the same dosage per kilogram of body weight. At a dosage of 20 mg/kg body weight, how many mil-ligrams of digitalis should a 160 lb patient receive?

검증된 단계별 안내

Convert the patient's weight from pounds to kilograms using the conversion factor: 1 lb = 0.453592 kg.

Calculate the patient's weight in kilograms by multiplying 160 lb by the conversion factor.

Use the dosage formula: \( \text{Dosage (mg)} = \text{Dosage per kg (mg/kg)} \times \text{Weight (kg)} \).

Substitute the given dosage per kilogram (20 mg/kg) and the patient's weight in kilograms into the formula.

Calculate the total dosage in milligrams by performing the multiplication.

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주요 개념

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Dosage Calculation

Dosage calculation is essential in pharmacology, particularly when determining the appropriate amount of medication based on a patient's weight. The formula used is typically the dosage per kilogram multiplied by the patient's weight in kilograms. This ensures that patients of different sizes receive a proportional amount of the drug, minimizing the risk of overdose or underdose.

Unit Conversion

Unit conversion is a critical skill in chemistry and pharmacology, especially when dealing with measurements in different systems. In this case, converting pounds to kilograms is necessary since the dosage is given in mg/kg. Understanding how to convert between units (1 lb = 0.453592 kg) allows for accurate calculations and ensures that the correct dosage is administered.

Pharmacokinetics

Pharmacokinetics refers to how a drug is absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and excreted in the body. It is crucial for understanding the effects of a drug like digitalis, as individual patient factors such as weight, age, and health status can influence how the drug acts. This knowledge helps healthcare providers tailor dosages to achieve the desired therapeutic effect while minimizing the risk of toxicity.