mcg/kg/min
Medical abbreviation · Prescription
| Stands for | Micrograms per kilogram per minute |
|---|---|
| Categories | Medical |
mcg/kg/min stands for Micrograms per kilogram per minute, a prescription abbreviation.
Weight-based infusion rate used for potent IV drugs such as dobutamine, dopamine, milrinone, nitroprusside and, in many hospitals, norepinephrine and epinephrine. Pumps convert the rate into mL/h using the bag concentration and patient weight.
Example: Dobutamine 5 mcg/kg/min; weight 80 kg, concentration 1,000 mcg/mL, rate 24 mL/h.
Usage notes
Confusing mcg/kg/min with mcg/min, which is used for some vasopressors in other hospitals, creates errors of 70-fold or more for an adult, so ISMP recommends standardizing dosing units for each drug across an organization. Smart pump drug libraries with hard limits catch many such mistakes. An outdated or estimated weight is another common error source.
Related abbreviations
More prescription abbreviations
- gtt/min – Drops per minute
- HS – Hora somni (at bedtime)
- IU – International unit
- LD – Loading dose
- mane – Mane (in the morning)
- mcg – Microgram
- mEq – Milliequivalent
- mg/kg – Milligrams per kilogram
- mg/m2 – Milligrams per square meter
- mL/h – Milliliters per hour
- nocte – Nocte (at night)
- non rep – Non repetatur (do not repeat)
See all 77 prescription abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.