Question

Diazepam is used as a skeletal muscle relaxant and as a sedative administered before surgery, as well as a treatment for anxiety. For children above the age of 6 months who suffer from anxiety disorders, diazepam is administered at a reduced dosage. Suppose a child with a body surface area (BSA) of 0.8 m² is to receive a dose of diazepam divided into three administrations. Using the BSA rule and assuming that an adult dose of diazepam is 12 mg, what are the daily dose and the dose per administration?

Answer NOT 5.6 or 1.8

Answer 1

Daily dose=body surface area (m2)÷1.7×average adult dose

Body surface area=0.8m2

Adult diazepam dose=12mg

Daily dose=0.8÷1.7×12=5.64mg

Dose per administration =1.88mg (according to divided into three administration )

Above calculation done by body surface area basis rule.