Question

Order: Biaxin 200 mg p.o. q 12 h for a child who weighs 45 lbs.

Have: Biaxin 125 mg per 5 mL

Biaxin label states 15 mg/kg/day in two equal doses.

Is this dosage safe?

Answer 1

To determine whether the given dosage of Biaxin is safe for a child weighing 45 lbs, we can calculate the appropriate dosage based on the child's weight and the recommended dosage of 15 mg/kg/day. However, since the available Biaxin tablets are in the strength of 125 mg and the required dosage per dose is 153 mg, it may be necessary to adjust the dosage or consider alternative forms of the medication.

Step-by-step explanation:

When determining the dosage of medication for children, the patient's mass is taken into consideration. In this case, the child weighs 45 lbs (20.4 kg). The Biaxin label states a dosage of 15 mg/kg/day in two equal doses. Therefore, we can calculate the appropriate dosage for the child:

Weight of child (kg) * Dosage (mg/kg/day) = Total dosage (mg/day)

20.4 kg * 15 mg/kg/day = 306 mg/day

To determine the dosage for each individual dose, we can divide the total dosage by the number of doses per day:

Total dosage (mg/day) / Number of doses per day = Dosage per dose (mg)

306 mg/day / 2 doses per day = 153 mg per dose

However, the available Biaxin tablets are in the strength of 125 mg. Since the required dosage per dose is 153 mg, it is not possible to achieve the exact dosage using the available tablets. Therefore, it may be necessary to adjust the dosage or consider alternative forms of the medication to ensure safety and efficacy.