Slides 10-01 Adult and Pediatric Dosages Based On Body Weight PDF

Dosage Calculations
Adult and Pediatric Dosages Based on

Body Weight
With Rhonda Lawes
Kenneth Sy, kennnethsy@gmail.com

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Safety First!
Finding a safe dose for patients often requires
calculating doses based on body weight.
Neonates Adults: Doses may be

and infants: calculated in:
Usually weighed Pounds or kg mcg or mg per

in kilogram kg, lb or day
The total daily dose may be divided into

more than one individual dose.

How to Convert lb to kg
There are 2.2 lbs in 1 kg.
2.2 lbs
When you are converting kg When you are converting
to pounds the number of pounds to kg the number of
pounds will be higher than kg. kg will be smaller than lbs.
1 kg

Mr. Burton weighs 198 lbs. How many kg does
Mr. Burton weigh?*
*When you are converting pounds to kg the number of kg will be smaller than lbs.
2.2 lbs = 1 kg
Divide 198 by 2.2 to find the correct number of kg.
 198 lbs / 2.2 = 90 kg

ordered a medication dosage that requires pounds.
*When you are converting kg to pounds the number of pounds will be higher than kg!
2.2 lbs = 1 kg
Multiply 75.3 kg by 2.2 to find the correct number of

pounds.
 75.3 kg x 2.2 = 165.66 lbs

Fractions to Decimals
¼ = 0.25
½ = 0.50
¾ = 0.75

Your Turn to Practice!
• Convert pounds to kilograms and

kilograms to pounds.
• Complete the 10 practice problems

in your downloadable material and
check your answers.

Usual dose: Children, 20 40 mg per kg a day in 75 mL (when mixed)
three divided doses. Adults, 250 mg three times a
day. See literature. Contains Cefaclor-Monohydrate
equivalent to 3.75 g anhydrous Cefaclor in a dry
pleasantly flavored mixture. LAWES
Prior to mixing: Add 45 mL of water in two portions
to the dry mixture in the bottle. Shake well after each
addition. BugAway
Each 5 mL (approx. one teaspoonful) will then For oral suspension
contain: Cefaclor-Monohydrat equivalent 250 mg
anhydrous Cefaclor.
USP
SHAKE WELL BEFORE USING
Oversize bottle provides extra space for shaking. 250 mg
Store in a refrigerator. May be kept for 14 days per 5 mL
without significant loss of potency. Keep tightly CAUTION: Federal (U.S.A.) law prohibits
closed. Discard unused portion after 14 days. dispensing without prescription
Lawes & Co., Lecturio, LPZ
Pediatric Oral Liquid Medications
Usual dose: Children, 20 40 mg

per kg a day in three divided
• Pediatric oral liquid medications will doses. Adults, 250 mg three
usually provide a safe range of times a day. See literature.
medication the child can receive in Contains Cefaclor Monohydrate
a 24 hour period based on weight. equivalent to 3.75 g anhydrous
Cefaclor in a dry pleasantly
flavored mixture.
• For example: 20 40 mg/kg/day
in divided doses every 8 hours

The label states: 20 40 mg/kg/day in divided doses every 8 hours
How to figure the safe and therapeutic range for a 10 kg child:
10 x 20 = 200 mg 10 x 40 = 400 mg
(lowest therapeutic dose) (highest safe range of medication)
 If a child weighed 10 kg this range would be (200 400 mg/day)

If a child weighed 10 kg the safe range would be (200 400 mg/day).
1 day = 24 hours 3 doses in a day = 24/8

which is one dose every 8 hours
The order reads give 125 mg every 8 hours. Is this safe?

125 mg x 3 (doses q 8 hours) = 375 mg in one day (24 hours)
The order reads give 125 mg every 8 hours. Is this safe?

200 mg x 3 (doses q 8 hours) = 600 mg in one day (24 hours)
What if the order read give 200 mg every 8 hours is this safe?

Safety Your Responsibility
When a medication is ordered in divided

doses make sure the total daily dose is within
the stated safe therapeutic range on the label.

Usual dose: Children, 50 mg per kg a day in equally 75 mL (when mixed)
divided doses at 6 hour intervals. Adults, 250 mg
three times a day. See literature. Contains Cefaclor-
Monohydrate equivalent to 3.75 g anhydrous Cefaclor
in a dry pleasantly flavored mixture. LAWES
Prior to mixing: Add 45 mL of water in two portions
to the dry mixture in the bottle. Shake well after each
addition. CoughNot
Each 5 mL (approx. one teaspoonful) will then For oral suspension
contain: Cefaclor-Monohydrat equivalent 250 mg
anhydrous Cefaclor.
USP
SHAKE WELL BEFORE USING
Oversize bottle provides extra space for shaking. 250 mg
Store in a refrigerator. May be kept for 14 days per 5 mL
without significant loss of potency. Keep tightly CAUTION: Federal (U.S.A.) law prohibits
closed. Discard unused portion after 14 days. dispensing without prescription
Lawes & Co., Lecturio, LPZ
250 mg CoughNot PO q 6 hours
LAWES
•
a 20 kg child for one day? CoughNot
For oral suspension
• How many doses will be given in one day?
USP
• The order reads 250 mg CoughNot
PO q 6 hours. Is this safe?
250 mg
per 5 mL
• Does the healthcare provider need to be Children, 50 mg/kg a day
consulted? in equally divided doses at
6 hour intervals

dosage
for a 20 kg child for one day? LAWES
• The label states 50 mg/kg is the usual dose.
CoughNot
 20 x 50 = 1,000 mg/day For oral suspension
USP
How many doses will be given in one day?
250 mg
per 5 mL
• 24 hrs / 6 hrs = 4 doses in 24 hours
Children, 50 mg/kg a day
in equally divided doses at
6 hour intervals

The order reads 250 mg CoughNot
PO q 6 hours. Is this safe? LAWES
• 4 doses x 250 mg = 1,000 mg/24 hours
CoughNot
 Yes, this is within the safe range. For oral suspension
USP
Does the healthcare provider need
to be consulted? 250 mg
per 5 mL
• No, because this dosage is safe.
Children, 50 mg/kg a day
in equally divided doses at
6 hour intervals

Weight Based Dosage with Conversion
Susie Que is a 10-year-old female who weighs
88 pounds. The Healthcare Provider (HCP) orders
CoughNot 500 mg every 6 hours.
Is this a safe dose for this particular child?
Convert first:
88 lbs / 2.2 = 40 kilograms
Calculate the safe range:

40 kg x 50 mg = 2,000 mg of CoughNot
CoughNot is 500 mg every 6 hours:

4 doses (24 hours / 6 hours)(500 mg every 6 hours) x (4 doses in 24 hours)
4 x 500 mg = 2,000 mg of CoughNot= 2,000 mg total
Practice Problems
the following:
• Reading labels to determine safe
therapeutic range
• Calculating dosages based on weight
in pounds or kilograms
• Calculating the total daily dose from
the divided dose
Complete the practice problems in your

downloadable material and check your
answers!

In a Nutshell
 Medication dosages can be ordered to be

weight.
This may require you to convert pounds to
kilograms or kilograms to pounds.
• There are 2.2 pounds (lbs) in each

kilogram (kg)
• To convert pounds to kilograms

divide the pounds by 2.2
• To convert kilograms to pounds

multiply the kilograms by 2.2

In a Nutshell
 Nurses are responsible to ensure that any

ordered dose is within a safe and
therapeutic range for their patient.
 Always calculate the correct dosage as

indicated by the medication label and
compare the dosage with the dosage
ordered by the HCP.
 If the therapeutic range is not included on

the label consult with the pharmacist,
package insert, or PDR.

This document is a property of: Kenneth Sy
Note: This document is copyright protected. It may not be copied, reproduced, used, or
distributed in any way without the written authorization of Lecturio GmbH.


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Dosage Calculations

Adult and Pediatric Dosages Based on

With Rhonda Lawes

Kenneth Sy, kennnethsy@gmail.com

Neonates Adults: Doses may be

Usually weighed Pounds or kg mcg or mg per

The total daily dose may be divided into

Kenneth Sy, kennnethsy@gmail.com

There are 2.2 lbs in 1 kg.

Kenneth Sy, kennnethsy@gmail.com

Divide 198 by 2.2 to find the correct number of kg.

 198 lbs / 2.2 = 90 kg

Kenneth Sy, kennnethsy@gmail.com

Multiply 75.3 kg by 2.2 to find the correct number of

 75.3 kg x 2.2 = 165.66 lbs

Kenneth Sy, kennnethsy@gmail.com

• Convert pounds to kilograms and

• Complete the 10 practice problems

Kenneth Sy, kennnethsy@gmail.com

Usual dose: Children, 20 40 mg

Kenneth Sy, kennnethsy@gmail.com

How to figure the safe and therapeutic range for a 10 kg child:

 If a child weighed 10 kg this range would be (200 400 mg/day)

Kenneth Sy, kennnethsy@gmail.com

If a child weighed 10 kg the safe range would be (200 400 mg/day).

1 day = 24 hours 3 doses in a day = 24/8

The order reads give 125 mg every 8 hours. Is this safe?

Kenneth Sy, kennnethsy@gmail.com

If a child weighed 10 kg the safe range would be (200 400 mg/day).

125 mg x 3 (doses q 8 hours) = 375 mg in one day (24 hours)

The order reads give 125 mg every 8 hours. Is this safe?

Kenneth Sy, kennnethsy@gmail.com

If a child weighed 10 kg the safe range would be (200 400 mg/day).

200 mg x 3 (doses q 8 hours) = 600 mg in one day (24 hours)

Kenneth Sy, kennnethsy@gmail.com

When a medication is ordered in divided

Kenneth Sy, kennnethsy@gmail.com

Kenneth Sy, kennnethsy@gmail.com

Kenneth Sy, kennnethsy@gmail.com

Kenneth Sy, kennnethsy@gmail.com

Calculate the safe range:

CoughNot is 500 mg every 6 hours:

Complete the practice problems in your

Kenneth Sy, kennnethsy@gmail.com

 Medication dosages can be ordered to be

• There are 2.2 pounds (lbs) in each

• To convert pounds to kilograms

• To convert kilograms to pounds

Kenneth Sy, kennnethsy@gmail.com

 Nurses are responsible to ensure that any

 Always calculate the correct dosage as

 If the therapeutic range is not included on

Kenneth Sy, kennnethsy@gmail.com

Kenneth Sy, kennnethsy@gmail.com

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