Need help with pediatric dosage calculation ASAP!!!

Nursing Students Student Assist

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HI! I am thoroughly confused!!! I have 2 problems that I just don't understand the why the answers are correct.

A small child has an ear infection

Order: amoxicillin (Amoxil) 75 mg, po, q8hr

Child's weight: 70 lb

Pediatric dose parameter: 20 to 40 mg/kg/day in three divided doses

On hand: 125 mg/5ml

How many MG a day? 225

Is the dose within safe dose parameters? Yes

How many ML? 3

I don't understand why this is safe. The safe dose range is 636-1272. These answers came from our instructor.

Order: clindamycin 150 mg, po, q6h

Child's weight: 40 lb

Pediatric dose parameters: 8-25 mg/kg/day in three or four divided doses

On hand: 75 mg/ml

How many MG day? 600

Is the dose within safe dose parameters? No

How many ml would you give? NONE

The safe dose range for this one is: 145.6 - 455

So my overall question is why is the first one safe and the second not when they both fall below the safe dose parameters?

This is my first time posting so forgive me if I am not posting in the correct area. Thank you for any input you guys can provide ;)

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Specializes in NICU.

the first one: Dr. ordered 225 mg. The safe daily dosage range was 636- 1272 mg. 225 mg is well below the max. safe dosage of 1272 mg.

The second problem: Dr. ordered 150 mg x 4 doses per day= 600 mg. The safe daily dosage range is 145.6- 455 mg per day. 600 mg is well above the max. daily dosage of 455 mg. You would be overdosing the child by 145 mg (600-455).

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Oh my gosh, total brain fart on that second one!!! Lord, it's been a long night of math hahaha. Still not quite sure why the first is safe though. I know it's well below the minimum rang but isn't that considered not therapeutic? Thanks for the input :)

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The first one would not be considered safe, it's outside the therapeutic parameters. And ditto what Don1984 said about problem #2 :)

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Specializes in Cath/EP lab, CCU, Cardiac stepdown.
The first one would not be considered safe, it's outside the therapeutic parameters. And ditto what Don1984 said about problem #2 :)

Actually I would argue that the dosage is safe but nontherapeutic

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Actually I would argue that the dosage is safe but nontherapeutic

Agreed...I said not safe in the sense of under-dosing antibiotics and possible development of resistance (a hot spot topic with me ;) LOL). I am the pain in the tush person who preaches to family and friends about finishing and properly taking their courses of antibiotics :whistling:

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