How much of a medication should be drawn if the order is for 400,000 units subcutaneously and the concentration is 250,000 units/mL?

To determine how much of the medication should be drawn up, you start by using the formula for calculating the volume needed based on the ordered dose and the concentration of the medication.

The formula is:

Volume (mL) = Dose (units) / Concentration (units/mL)

In this case, the ordered dose is 400,000 units, and the concentration is 250,000 units/mL. Applying the values to the formula:

Volume = 400,000 units / 250,000 units/mL

Calculating this gives:

Volume = 1.6 mL

This means that to achieve the ordered dose of 400,000 units, you need to draw up 1.6 mL of the medication at the given concentration. This correctly matches the answer provided.

Understanding the calculation process is key in pharmacology, as it ensures accurate dosing which is crucial for patient safety and effective treatment.