Critical care infusion drug dosing cheat sheet

Critical Care Infusion Cheat Sheet

This is a quick reference page for common critical care infusion drug doses.

Disclaimer: Please be careful. Different hospitals and different countries use different units. I have tried to include different units for reference, but pay close attention to the units. I have transcribed all of these doses from references I trust, but I am not perfect. Please let me know if you see any errors in the doses listed below, and please double check dosing when using clinically. 

Vasopressor, Inotropes, chronotropes

DrugWeight Based DoseAlternative dosing units
Epinephrine (aka adrenaline)0.01-1 mcg/kg/min1-20 mcg/min
Norepinephrine (aka noradrenaline)0.01-1 mcg/kg/min1-20 mcg/min
Isoproterenol0.02-0.35 mcg/kg/min1-20 mcg/min
Phenylephrine0.25-6 mcg/kg/min10-200 mcg/min
Vasopressin0.04 units/min
Dobutamine2-20 mcg/kg/min
Milrinone0.1.25-1 mcg/kg/min
** Yes, dopamine was left off this list on purpose, because there is really no reason to be using it. 

Sedatives

DrugWeight Based DoseAlternative dosing units
Propofol5-150 mcg/kg/min0.3-3 mg/kg/hr
Ketamine0.05-0.1 mg/kg/hr (analgesia)0.2-4 mg/kg/hr (sedation)
Midazolam1-24 mcg/kg/min (peds dosing)0.25 – 20 mg/hr
lorazepam0.5 – 5 mg/hr
Dexmedetomidine0.1-1.5 mcg/kg/h

Analgesics

DrugWeight Based DoseAlternative dosing units
Fentanyl0.5-2 mcg/kg/hr25-400 mcg/hr
Morphine0.01-0.05 mg/kg/hour1-10 mg/hr
Hydromorphone0.5-3 mg/h

Hypertension and Tachycardia

DrugWeight Based DoseAlternative dosing units
Nitroprusside0.1-10 mcg/kg/min5-200 mcg/min
Esmolol50-300 mcg/kg/min (after 500 mcg/kg bolus over 1 min)
Labetalol0.25 – 3 mg/kg/hr2-8 mg/min
Nicardipine5-15 mg/hr
Nitroglycerin0.25-10 mcg/kg/min20-500 mcg/min
Diltiazemmcg/kg/min5 – 15 mg/hr
Amiodaronemcg/kg/min150 mg over 10 min then 0.5-1 mg/min
Procainamide17 mg/kg over 30 min then 1 – 6 mg/min
Lidocaine1 – 4 mg/min

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