GRCC PEDS Math

  1. Your 13 kg pediatric patient is being treated with Dilantin for seizure disorder. The physician has ordered Dilantin, 30 mg, PO, BID. You check for safe dosage recommendations, and find that the recommended pediatric dose is 5 mg/kg/day, in two equal doses. What is the maximum safe dose for your patient? Is the physician’s order safe?

Maximum safe dose:

Is the ordered amount safe?

  1. Your 7 year old patient has a doctor’s order for 250 mg Chloramphenicol, IV, every six hours for infection. You have found that the recommended pediatric dose is 50 mg/kg/day, IV, in four equal doses. Your patient’s weight is shown as 39 pounds. What is the safe dose for this patient? Is the doctor’s order safe?

Maximum safe dose:

Is the ordered amount safe?

  1. Your 32 kg, 11 year old patient has an order for Erythromycin, 150 mg, PO, every six hours. You are unable to find any pediatric dosing information, but have found that the adult dosage is 250 mg, PO, every six hours. What is the safe dose for your patient? Is the doctor’s order safe?

Maximum safe dose:

Is the ordered amount safe?

**CLARK’S RULE: If resources do not give a recommended pediatric dosage, Clark’s Rule can be used to determine a safe dosage using the adult dosing guidelines.

FORMULA: Recommended Adult Dose X Child’s weight in Pounds = Child’s Safe Dose

150 (pounds – average adult weight)

GRCC PEDS Math

  1. Your 13 kg pediatric patient is being treated with Dilantin for seizure disorder. The physician has ordered Dilantin, 30 mg, PO, BID. You check for safe dosage recommendations, and find that the recommended pediatric dose is 5 mg/kg/day, in two equal doses. What is the maximum safe dose for your patient? Is the physician’s order safe?

Maximum safe dose: 65 mg/day 32.5 mg/dose (BID)

Is the ordered amount safe? Yes

  1. Your 7 year old patient has a doctor’s order for 250 mg Chloramphenicol, IV, every six hours for infection. You have found that the recommended pediatric dose is 50 mg/kg/day, IV, in four equal doses. Your patient’s weight is shown as 39 pounds. What is the safe dose for this patient? Is the doctor’s order safe?

Maximum safe dose:886.5 mg/day 221.63 mg/dose (every 6 hours)

Is the ordered amount safe? NO

  1. Your 32 kg, 11 year old patient has an order for Erythromycin, 150 mg, PO, every six hours. You are unable to find any pediatric dosing information, but have found that the adult dosage is 250 mg, PO, every six hours. What is the safe dose for your patient? Is the doctor’s order safe?

Maximum safe dose:117.33 mg

Is the ordered amount safe?NO

**CLARK’S RULE: If resources do not give a recommended pediatric dosage, Clark’s Rule can be used to determine a safe dosage using the adult dosing guidelines.

FORMULA: Recommended Adult Dose X Child’s weight in Pounds = Child’s Safe Dose

150 (pounds – average adult weight)