Adult IV-to-PO conversion reference — generics, brands, dose ratios, oral bioavailability, and pearls. IV azithromycin should be reserved for hospitalized patients who cannot tolerate oral medications or require initial parenteral therapy for severe infections. Pharmacist Driven Intravenous (IV) to Oral (PO) Conversion Protocol Procedure: The following medications, due to their unique properties of having the intravenous and oral routes of administration being therapeutically equivalent and interchangeable, will be included in the protocol: The antimicrobials listed below are likely to achieve similarly effective exposures when administered orally as intravenously, provided that patients do not have significant gastrointestinal pathology and are hemodynamically stable. See UCSF pharmacy IV/PO therapeutic interchange guidelines for more detail. Requires discussion and consensus between pharmacist and prescriber prior to enteral conversion. During an acute illness or hospital stay, residents may begin parenteral antibiotic therapy to combat a significant infection. As their clinical condition begins to improve, many residents may be candidates for a conversion from IV to oral (PO) antibiotic therapy. DS: Double strength *: Azithromycin rapidly moves into tissues resulting in low serum concentrations but high and persistent tissue concentrations, which makes it suitable for an IV to PO conversion. This page serves as a concise reference for common IV-to-PO dose conversions with examples included. Below are key pharmacokinetic principles to guide safe transition from parenteral to oral therapy. For antimicrobial interchanges: the pharmacist must notify the covering provider that the antimicrobial has been converted from IV to PO per protocol. The provider has the option to switch back to the IV route if parenteral therapy is deemed necessary. About This Oral vs. IV Dose Conversion Calculator This guide explains the principles behind converting medication doses between intravenous (IV) and oral (PO) routes. The Oral vs. IV Dose Conversion Calculator is a tool designed for healthcare professionals to estimate equivalent dosages based on a drug's oral bioavailability, a key pharmacokinetic parameter.