Final answer:
The safe dosage range for an infant weighing 6.5 pounds is 0.105 to 0.18 mg/day when divided into three doses every 8 hours, which corresponds to 0.035 to 0.06 mg per dose.
Step-by-step explanation:
Calculating Safe Dosage Range for an Infant
The question pertains to determining the safe dosage range for a medication based on an infant's weight. Given that the infant weighs 6.5 pounds, we first need to convert the weight into kilograms since the dosage recommendation is given in mg/kg/day. There are approximately 2.2 pounds in one kilogram.
6.5 lb ÷ 2.2 lb/kg = 2.9545 kg (approximately 3 kg when rounded).
The recommended daily dosage range is 0.035 to 0.06 mg/kg/day. To find the overall daily range in milligrams for the infant:
- Minimum dosage: 0.035 mg/kg/day × 3 kg = 0.105 mg/day
- Maximum dosage: 0.06 mg/kg/day × 3 kg = 0.18 mg/day
This dosage needs to be divided into three doses, as it is to be given every 8 hours (q8h). Therefore, each individual dose would be:
- Minimum individual dose: 0.105 mg/day ÷ 3 = 0.035 mg/dose
- Maximum individual dose: 0.18 mg/day ÷ 3 = 0.06 mg/dose
This calculation provides us with the safe dosage range for the infant when administering the medication every 8 hours.