A nurse is preparing to administer hydroxyzine 60 mg PO every 8 hr to a client who has generalized anxiety disorder. Available is hydroxyzine 10 mg/5 mL solution. How many mL should the nurse administer for the total daily dose? (Round the answer to the nearest whole number. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.)
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
To calculate the total daily dose of hydroxyzine, follow these steps:
Step 1: Understand the dose to be administered
The order is for 60 mg of hydroxyzine every 8 hours. Since the client is receiving the medication three times per day (in 24 hours), the total daily dose will be:Total daily dose=60 mg/dose×3 doses/day=180 mg/day\text{Total daily dose} = 60 \, \text{mg/dose} \times 3 \, \text{doses/day} = 180 \, \text{mg/day}Total daily dose=60mg/dose×3doses/day=180mg/day
Step 2: Identify the concentration of the medication available
The available concentration is 10 mg of hydroxyzine per 5 mL of solution. This means that for every 10 mg of hydroxyzine, there are 5 mL of solution.
Step 3: Set up a proportion to find out how many mL of solution are needed for 60 mg per dose
We can use the ratio to set up a proportion for one dose:10 mg5 mL=60 mgx mL\frac{10 \, \text{mg}}{5 \, \text{mL}} = \frac{60 \, \text{mg}}{x \, \text{mL}}5mL10mg=xmL60mg
Cross-multiply to solve for xxx:10x=60×510x = 60 \times 510x=60×5 10x=30010x = 30010x=300 x=30010=30 mL/dosex = \frac{300}{10} = 30 \, \text{mL/dose}x=10300=30mL/dose
So, the nurse should administer 30 mL per dose.
Step 4: Calculate the total daily dose in mL
Since the client will receive the medication 3 times per day, multiply the mL per dose by the number of doses:Total daily dose in mL=30 mL/dose×3 doses/day=90 mL/day\text{Total daily dose in mL} = 30 \, \text{mL/dose} \times 3 \, \text{doses/day} = 90 \, \text{mL/day}Total daily dose in mL=30mL/dose×3doses/day=90mL/day
Final Answer:
The nurse should administer 90 mL for the total daily dose.
Explanation:
In this scenario, understanding the relationship between the prescribed dose and the concentration of the medication is crucial. Hydroxyzine is prescribed to manage symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder, often used due to its sedative properties. The dosage is based on the available liquid solution, and it’s important to accurately calculate the volume to prevent underdosing or overdosing. By using proportions, the nurse can ensure the client receives the correct amount of medication each day.