Question

Valproic acid 10 mg/kg po QID is ordered for a child weighing 66 lb. The recommended maintenance dosage is 30 to 60 mg/kg/day.

1.         What is the child’s weight in kilograms?

2.         What is the safe dosage range for this child?

3.         What is the total dosage ordered per day?

4.         Is it safe to give?

5.         What is the total dosage ordered per dose?

Answer 1

1-) As given above child weight in lb,

1lb = 0.453 kg

66 lb= 66 × 0.453

= 29.898 kg

So, the weight of the child is approx 30 kg.

2-) safe dosage for the child is to be:-

Initial dose: 10 to 15 mg/kg/day orally; doses greater than 250 mg/day should be given in divided doses -Increase in increments of 5 to 10 mg/kg weekly as necessary to achieve optimal responseMaximum dose: 60 mg/kg/day

3-) total dosage should be approx 10-15 mg / kg / day.order a day

4-) yes, it is safe

5-) IV (valproate sodium): 10-15 mg/kg/day IV divided q12hr infused over 1 hr; maximum dose 60 mg/kg/day; do not exceed 14 days