A Quick Guide to Paediatric Dosing for Pharmacists

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By Shu Harnn Sim

​“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” – George Santayana, The Life of Reason, 1905

baby in cot

Reviewed by Lee Su Vin

The end goal of this brief compilation of commonly dispensed medications in community pharmacy from the most popular resources in Malaysia is to ease dispensing and to reduce the occurrence of medication error in pediatric population.

 

FEVER 

SOURCE  MIMS Frank Shann
Paracetamol
(120mg/5ml)
(250mg/5ml)		 3-5 months: 60mg Q4H-Q6H
6-23 months: 120mg Q4H-Q6H
2-3 years: 180mg Q4H-Q6H
4-5 years: 240mg Q4H-Q6H
6-7 years: 240-250mg Q4H-Q6H
8-9 years: 360-375mg Q4H-Q6H
10-11 years: 480-500mg Q4H-Q6H		 15mg/kg QID
Ibuprofen
(100mg/5ml)		 >6 months: 5-10mg/kg TDS or QID 10mg/kg Q4H-Q8H

 

ANTIHISTAMINE

SOURCE MIMS Frank Shann
Fexofenadine
(30mg/5ml)		 0.5-2 years: 15mg BD
2-11 years: 30mg BD
≥12 years 60 mg bid or 180 mg once daily		 6-11 years: 30mg BD
>11 years: 60mg BD or 180mg OD
Desloratadine (2.5mg/5ml) 1-5 years: 1.25mg OD
6-11 years: 2.5mg OD
≥12 years: 5mg OD		 0.1mg/kg OD
Loratadine
(5mg/5ml)		 2-12 years (<30kg): 5mg OD
2-11 years (>30kg): 10mg OD		 1-12 years (12-30kg): 5mg OD
1-12 years (>30kg): 10mg OD
Cetirizine
(5mg/5ml)		 2-6 years: 2.5mg BD
6-12 years: 5mg BD		 0.5-2 years: 2.5mg OD
2-5 years: 2.5-5mg OD
>5 years: 5-10mg OD
Chlorpheniramine (2mg/5ml) 2-5 years: 1mg q4-6h
6-12 years: 2mg q4-6h		 0.1mg/kg TDS or QID
Dexchlorpheniramine (1mg/5ml) 2-5 years: 0.5mg q4-6h
6-12 years: 1mg q4-6h		 0.05mg/kg TDS or QID
Promethazine (5mg/5ml) 2-5 years: 5mg TDS
6-10 years: 10mg BD
>10 years: 25mg OD or BD		 0.2-0.5mg/kg TDS
Triprolidine
(1.25mg/5ml)		 4months-<2 years: 0.313mg QID
2-<4 years: 0.625mg QID
4-<6 years: 0.938mg QID
6-<12 years: 1.25mg QID		 <2 years: 2.5ml TDS
2-5 years: 2.5-5ml TDS
6-12 years: 5ml TDS

 

DECONGESTANT

SOURCE MIMS Frank Shann
Pseudoephedrine (30mg/5ml) Not recommended < 12 years old 1mg/kg TDS or QID
Phenylephrine (5mg/5ml) Not recommended < 12 years old 0.2mg/kg TDS or QID (max 10mg)

 

WET COUGH

SOURCE MIMS Frank Shann
Bromhexine
(4mg/5ml)		 2-5 years: 4mg BD
6-11 years: 8mg TDS		 0.3mg/kg
Acetylcysteine
 2-6 years: 100mg QID
>6 years: 200mg TDS		 No dosing for cough
Carbocisteine
(100mg/5ml)		 2-5 years: 100mg BD
6-12 years: 100mg or 250mg TDS		 10-15mg/kg TDS
Ambroxol
(3mg/ml)		 <6 months: 3mg BD
7-11 months: 6mg BD
1-2 years: 7.5mg BD
2-5 years: 7.5mg TDS
6-11 years: 15mg TDS		 No data
Guaifenesin (50mg/5ml) 6-12 years: 100mg QID 4-8mg/kg Q4H
Diphenhydramine
(12.5mg/5ml)
(14mg/5ml)		 2-5 years: 6.25mg QID
6-11 years: 12.5-25mg QID
>12 years: 25-50mg TDS or QID		 1-2mg/kg TDS or QID

 

DRY COUGH

SOURCE  MIMS Frank Shann
Dextromethorphan
(15mg/5ml)		 Not recommended < 12 years old 0.2-0.4mg/kg TDS or QID
Pholcodine
(10mg/5ml)		 6-12 years: 2-5mg TDS or QID 6-12 years: 2.5-5mg TDS or QID

 

MISCELLANEOUS 

SOURCE MIMS Frank Shann
Salbutamol (2mg/5ml) 2-6 years: 1-2mg TDS or QID
>6-12 years: 2mg TDS or QID		 0.1-0.15mg/kg QID
Lactulose (3.335g/5ml) <1 year: up to 5ml daily
1-6 years: 5-10ml daily
7-14 years: 10-15ml daily		 0.5ml/kg BD

 

The information provided should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, and those seeking personal medical advice should consult with a licensed physician. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health provider regarding a medical condition.

 

REFERENCES:

  1. MIMS Online [Internet].Petaling Jaya: MIMS Malaysia; 2010. Available from: https://www.mims.com/malaysia
  2. Shann F. Drug Doses 17th Edition. Parkville: Collective P/L; 2017.

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