Cortney asked
What is the dosage for a 37 pound 4 year old of 250 mg amoxicillin capsules?
Answer
Amoxicillin is an antibiotic, similar to penicillin. Unlike penicillin however, it has broad antibacterial coverage and is used against both gram positive and gram negative bacteria.
Amoxicillin is used for a variety of indications including:
- Ear Infections
- Bronchitis
- Sinusitis
The dosage of amoxicillin in infants and children can range greatly depending on the indication it is being used for. Below, we list the common dosage ranges for children and infants.
Infants > 3 months: 45 mg/kg/day for most indications. Rarely, doses up to 90 mg/kg/day are used for ear infections and pneumonia. In most cases, the dosage is split up into 2 divided doses (i.e. every 12 hours).
Children: 45 mg/kg/day for most indications. Rarely, doses up to 90 mg/kg/day are used for ear infections and pneumonia. Generally, the maximum dose per day of amoxicillin is put at 1750 mg/day. However, some resistant infections require up to 4,000 mg per day. In most cases, the dosage is split up into 2 divided doses (i.e. every 12 hours).
Below, we use the dosage range of 45 mg/kg/day to 90 mg/kg/day for a 37 pound child as an example to come up with an appropriate dose:
- There are 2.205 pounds per kilogram. Thus, 37 pounds in kilograms equals 16.78 kg
- At 45 mg/kg/day, the dose would be 755 mg per day, or around 377 mg every 12 hours
- At 90 mg/kg/day, the dose would be 1,510 mg per day, or around 755 mg every 12 hours
Therefore, the appropriate dosage range for a 37 pound child would be 755 mg to 1,510 mg per day.
As discussed above, the dose used will depend on the indication, the individual and any other pertinent medical considerations. Be sure to check with your doctor of pharmacist regarding the dose that is to be used.
