Neonatal prescribing is unforgiving: small weights, rapidly changing physiology, and narrow margins mean an arithmetic slip can be dangerous. This calculator gives a fast weight-based single dose for common NICU drugs, alongside the usual route and an interval guide, as a cross-check against the chart.
How it works
Almost all neonatal dosing is expressed per kilogram of body weight. The calculator applies the simple relationship:
single dose = dose per kg x weight (kg)Each drug in the list carries its representative per-kilogram dose, its route, and an interval guide. For aminoglycosides and glycopeptides the interval widens in the most premature infants because clearance is slower, and the guide reflects that pattern.
Notes and limitations
The figures are educational and assume standard organ function. They do not replace therapeutic drug monitoring: gentamicin and vancomycin dosing in particular must be steered by measured levels, and intervals adjusted by postmenstrual age. Surfactant, adrenaline, and resuscitation drugs are included with their volume equivalents, but local protocols govern repeat dosing. Always confirm every dose against your unit’s neonatal formulary and the individual baby before administration.