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Local anesthetic maximum dose calculator

Maximum recommended single dose of common local anesthetics by body weight.

Local anesthetic maximum dose calculator
Local anesthetic
Weight
Complete the fields above to see the result.

When to use

  • Checking a planned local anesthetic dose against commonly cited weight-based and absolute maximums before infiltration or regional block.

Formula

Maximum dose (mg) = min(mg/kg limit x weight, published absolute maximum mg) for the selected agent/epinephrine combination.

Pearls and pitfalls

  • These are commonly cited ceiling doses, not guarantees of safety; systemic toxicity can occur below them, especially with inadvertent intravascular injection.
  • Use ideal or lean body weight in obese patients; do not scale doses to actual weight without clinical judgement.

References

  1. Rosenberg PH, et al. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2004;29(6):564-575.