Dosage calculation help

Published

I just don't get this:

Ordered: Tylenol with codeine 10 ml po q4-6h prn child weighs 42 lbs.

Recommended: Safe dosage of codeine is 0.5-1.0 mg/kg/dose q4-6h

Available: 120 mg Tylenol & 12 mg of codeine/5cc

A. Actual weight - I understand that one

B. Recommended for this child: 9.55-19.09 mg/kg q4-6 hr IS THAT RIGHT?

C. Dose ordered: That would be 10 ml q4-6h IS THAT RIGHT?

D. Above/below/recommended: how would you figure this

E. Amount to be given in ml if applicable:

How would you calculate all of this?

The child weighs 19.09kg

safe dosage of codeine is 9.55 - 19.09 mg for the child's weight(you know how you got this)

the available dose is 12 mg/5cc(5ml)

the physician has ordered: 10 ml

12 x 2tsp(10ml) = 24mg which is above the reccommended dosage and not safe for child

Sometimes you read too hard...thats o.k. you will get that they like throw in extra(Tylenol) to throw you off....too much info distracts.

Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

ordered: tylenol with codeine 10 ml po q4-6h prn child weighs 42 lbs.

recommended: safe dosage of codeine is 0.5-1.0 mg/kg/dose q4-6h

available: 120 mg tylenol & 12 mg of codeine/5cc

a. actual weight

this is given information. the answer is 42 pounds. in kg, it is 42 pounds/2.2 kg = 19.090909 kg

b. recommended for this child:

the recommended safe dose of codeine would be 0.5-1.0 mg/kg. to determine a safe range dose convert the child's weight to kg (19.090909 kg) and calculate the low and high ranges.

0.5 mg x 19.090909 = 9.5454545 mg, rounded off to 9.5 mg

1.0 mg x 19.090909 = 19.090909 mg, rounded off to 19.1 mg

the safe dose range for a 42 pound child is 9.5 mg to 19.1 mg
.

c. dose ordered:

the dose ordered is 10 ml.

d. above/below/recommended:

dose on hand
: codeine 12 mg/5 ml

to determine a safe dosage:

19.090909 mg
(dose desired, high range)
/12 mg
(dose on hand)
x 5 ml
(amount the dose on hand comes in)
= 7.95833 ml
, rounded to
8 ml

9.5454545 mg
(dose desired, low range)
/12 mg
(dose on hand)
x 5 ml
(amount the dose on hand comes in)
= 3.9772725 ml
, rounded to
4 ml

the safe dose range for a 42 pound child is 4 ml to 8 ml
.

e. amount to be given in ml if applicable:

you will not give this ordered dose of 10 ml
. the safe dose of codeine for this 42 pound child is 9.5 mg to 19.1 mg, or 4 ml to 8 ml using the elixir provided. giving 10 ml of tylenol with codeine elixir that is ordered contains 24 mg of codeine which is above the safe dose range recommended for a child of this weight.

Thank you so much for your help. I love the step by step for the problem.

Sorry about not describing in detail...my answer can be deleted if possible.

No I love it that it was simple...turning 10 mL into 2 and multiplying by what was available. I know with my instructor she takes everything and it seems so complicated. When it is as simple as what I call dog over house...dose divided by what you HAVE and multiply by the mL. That is what I was saying to you about not making it complicated.

+ Join the Discussion