Question

5. Patient 4 month old child who weighs12 lb Ordered: Erythromycin suspension 65 mg PO q12h On hand: Erythromycin oral suspension 100 mg/ 2.5 mL. According to the package insert the following are usual dosages for children over 3 months of age. For mild to moderate ear, nose throat infections, either 25 mg/kg/day in divided doses every 12 h, or 20mg/kg/dfay in divided doses every 8 h. Is this order safe. YES_____________ NO____________ Why? Show results of calculations. Amount to administer if safe:__________________

Answer 1

Patient’s weight = 12 lb=5 kg

According to the package insert the following are usual dosages for children over 3 months of age. For mild to moderate ear, nose throat infections, either 25 mg/kg/day in divided doses every 12 h, or 20mg/kg/day in divided doses every 8 h.

Thus for this patient as per weight dose will be= 25X 5=125 mg or 20x 5= 100 mg per day in divided doses every 8 h

Ordered: Erythromycin suspension 65 mg PO q12h = 130 mg per day

The ordered doe is more than the recommended dose hence it is not safe.

Hence it is advised to adjust the dose as per the weight of the patient and under the recommended safe dose as given above.

On hand: Erythromycin oral suspension 100 mg/ 2.5 mL = 45.45 mg/ml

                                                  Thus for 65 mg PO q12h= 65/45.45= 1.43 ml

But it is not safe.