Table 1
Inadvertent overdose for different drugs
| Drug (concentration of drug in vial/ampoule) | Dose (mg/kg) | Amount of drug for a neonate weighing 2 kg (mg) | Drug volume taken in a 1 ml syringe (ml) | Volume of drug in dead space (ml) | Amount of drug in dead space (mg) | Total amount of drug neonate is getting (mg) | Inadvertent overdose factor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assuming the drug for a 2 kg neonate is drawn up in a 1 ml syringe and diluted by drawing up the diluent into the same syringe. Doses of drugs taken from Pediatric drugs and nursing implications.[2] Digoxin is available in two formulations: 250 μg/ml 100 μg/ml. | |||||||
| Digoxin (1 ml = 0.25 mg) | 0.025 | 0.005 | 0.02 | 0.07 | 0.0175 | 0.005+0.0175 = 0.0225 | 4.5 |
| Digoxin (1 ml = 0.1 mg) | 0.025 | 0.005 | 0.05 | 0.07 | 0.007 | 0.005+0.007 = 0.012 | 2.4 |
| Adrenaline (1 ml = 1 mg; 1:1000) | 0.03 | 0.06 | 0.06 | 0.07 | 0.07 | 0.06+0.07 = 0.13 | 2.16 |
| Furosemide (1 ml = 10 mg) | 1 | 2 | 0.2 | 0.07 | 0.7 | 2+0.7 = 2.7 | 1.35 |
| Dexamethasone (1 ml = 4 mg) | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.05 | 0.07 | 0.28 | 0.2+0.28 = 0.48 | 2.4 |
| Midazolam (1 ml = 5 mg) | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.04 | 0.07 | 0.35 | 0.2+0.35 = 0.55 | 2.75 |
