Dopamine Drip Rate Calculator
Set a dopamine or dobutamine drip in mL/hour from a mcg/kg/min order, patient weight and a standard premix concentration, with the dose per minute shown.
How it works
mcg/min = dose(mcg/kg/min) × weight(kg) · mL/h = mcg/min × 60 ÷ concentration(mcg/mL)
Dopamine and dobutamine are titrated in micrograms per kilogram per minute but delivered from standard premixed bags whose concentration is fixed. Multiplying the ordered dose by weight gives the micrograms per minute; multiplying by 60 and dividing by the bag’s mcg/mL converts that to the pump’s millilitres-per-hour. This tool uses common premix concentrations — always confirm the actual bag label and your unit’s titration protocol before changing a vasoactive drip.
Worked example
For 5 mcg/kg/min on an 80 kg patient with the 400 mg/250 mL (1,600 mcg/mL) premix: dose = 5 × 80 = 400 mcg/min; rate = 400 × 60 ÷ 1,600 = 24,000 ÷ 1,600 = 15 mL/h.
Frequently asked questions
Why are dopamine and dobutamine grouped together?
Both are weight-based inotrope/vasopressor infusions ordered in mcg/kg/min and supplied as standard premix bags, so the arithmetic is identical. Their clinical effects and dose ranges differ, so pick the concentration that matches the actual bag and follow the drug-specific protocol.
What if my bag concentration is not listed?
Use the general mcg/kg/min infusion calculator, where you enter the exact milligrams and volume of your admixture. The three options here cover the most common premixes only.
How often should a titrated drip be rechecked?
Vasoactive infusions are titrated to a target such as blood pressure and are reassessed frequently per protocol, often every few minutes during active titration. This tool gives the rate for one ordered dose; it does not replace continuous monitoring or an independent double-check.
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Educational estimate only — not medical advice, and no substitute for a clinician, pharmacist or the product label. Every dose, rate and volume must be independently verified against the actual drug, order and patient before administration. Do not use this tool to self-treat or to bypass an institution’s double-check policy.