If the amount of time between the last dose given and the next scheduled administration time is GREATER than or equal to ½ of the ordered dosing interval, the dose should be administered at the next scheduled dosing time.
Example 1:
A patient is ordered for 500 mg Flagyl IVPB q 8 hours (Standard Administration Times: 6:00 A.M.-2:00 P.M.-10:00 P.M.) at 3:00P.M. The first dose is given at 5:00 P.M. When should the next dose be given?
Answer:
Half of q 8 hours is 4 hours. The next scheduled administration time is 10:00 P.M. which is 5 hours from the first dose that was given at 5:00 P.M. (10:00. - 5:00 = 5 hours). Since this time is GREATER than 4 hours, give the next dose at 10:00 P.M. as scheduled.
If the amount of time between the last dose given and the next scheduled administration time is LESS than ½ of the ordered dosing interval, the next scheduled dose would be skipped and the regular scheduled administration times would resume thereafter.
Example 2:
A patient is ordered for 1 Gram of Vancomycin IVPB STAT and q 12 hours (Standard Administration Times: 6:00 A.M. and 6:00 P.M.) at 1:00 A.M. The STAT dose is given at 1:30 A.M. When should the next dose be given?
Answer:
Half of q 12 hours is 6 hours. The next scheduled administration time is 6:00 A.M. which is 4.5 hours from the STAT dose that was given at 1:30 A.M. (6:00 – 1:30 = 4.5 hours). Since this is LESS than 6 hours, skip the 6:00 A.M. scheduled dose and give the next scheduled dose at 6:00 P.M.
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