Question

gabapentin is an antiepileptic drug used for the treatment of partial seizures. patients between ages 3 and 12 years should receive a starting dose of 15 mg/day per kilogram of body mass. this dose is administered twice a day. what is the total dosage for a child that weighs 88 pounds? what is the size of each of the administered doses administered in a day?

Answer 1

Starting dose of children between 3 and 12 years of age for gabapentin = 15 mg/day per kilogram body mass.

Mass of the concerned child = 88 pounds = 88 x 0.454 kg = 39.952 kg.

Total dosage of a drug is given by = Recommended starting dose x Body mass of the patient

Thus, total dosage of gabapentin for the child per day = Starting dose x Body Mass

= 15 mg/kg/day x 39.952 kg

= 599.28 mg per day

Therefore, total dosage of gabapentin for the child is 599.28 mg per day.

According to the question, the drug is administered in two doses each day.

Therefore, considering the total dosage is divided into two equal doses every day,

Size of each of administered dose in a day = 599.28 mg/2

   = 299.64 mg.

Therefore, the drug gabapentin must be administered over two doses each day with 299.64 mg of the drug in each dose.