| DRUG | ROUTE | EACH DOSE | TIMES DAILY | NOTES/ INDICATIONS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acyclovir | PO | < 2yrs: 100 mg > 2yrs: 200 mg |
5 | Give for 5 days for Herpes simplex treatment |
| IV | 10mg/kg/dose | TDS | Immunocompromised IV for 1 week | |
| Adrenaline | IV | 0.1ml/kg of 1:10000 | For shock, CPR etc. | |
| NEB | 1-2mls of 1:1000 (pur) | For acute sever upper airway obstruction | ||
| IM | 0.01 ml/kg of 1:1000 | For anaphylactic shock | ||
| Albendazole | PO | <2 yrs 200mg >2 yrs 400mg |
STAT | Before food. Treatment may be repeated in 3 weeks. |
| Amikacin | IV | 15 mg/kg | OD | |
| Amitriptyline | PO | 0.2-0.5 mg/kg (max 25 mg) |
OD | Give at night, for neuropathic pain |
| Aminophylline | IV | Loading dose: 5 mg/kg (max 500 mg) over 20 min Maintenance dose: 1 mg/kg/h continuous infusion |
severe acute asthma for preparation | |
| PO | Loading dose: 6 mg/kg Maintenance dose: 2.5 mg/kg |
BD | Respiratory stimulants ( Neonatology chapter) | |
| Amoxicillin | PO | 15 mg/kg | TDS | |
| For pneumonia 30 mg/kg | BD | |||
| Amoxicillin+Clavulanic acid | PO | <1 yr: 20 mg/kg daily in three divided doses | TDS | |
| 1–6 yrs: 125 mg 6–12 yrs: 250 mg > 12 yrs: 250 mg |
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| Artesunate | IV | < 20 kg: 3 mg/kg > 20 kg: 2.4 mg/kg |
At 0, 12, 24 hours and then every 24 hours for up to 3 days. Switch to LA as soon as patient able to take oral meds | |
| Atenolol | PO | 0.5-2 mg/kg | OD | Hypertension |
| Atropine | IV/IM | Organophosphate poisoning | ||
| Azithromycin | PO | 10 mg/kg (max 500 mg) | OD | For atypical pneumonia. Treat for 3 days |
| 15 mg/kg (max 1000 mg) on the first day, then 10 mg/kg (max 500 mg) for 4 days | For dysentery | |||
| 20 mg/kg (max 1000 mg) | For cholera. Single dose | |||
| Baclofen | PO | 1 (-2) mg/kg | TDS | For spastic form of CP |
| Benzathine penicillin | IM | Syphilis neonate: 50,000 u/kg (max 2.4 MU) | STAT | Also primary, secondary, or early latent (<1 year duration) Syphilis |
| Streptococcal prophylaxis: 0.6MU < 30kg 1.2MU > 30kg |
Monthly dose for rheumatic fever and sickle cell | |||
| Benzylpenicillin | IM/IV | 50,000 u/kg | QID | For pneumonia |
| 100,000 u/kg | 6 | For meningitis | ||
| Calcium gluconate | IV | Hypocalcaemia | ||
| Carbamazepin | PO | 10-15mg/kg | BD | needs tapering in, start with 7.5mg/kg BD, increase in second week |
| Captopril | PO | 0.1 mg/kg (max 6 mg/kg/day) | BD/TDS | |
| Ceftriaxone | IV | Meningitis, Salmonella infection: 100 mg/kg (max 2g/d) Other infections 50 mg/kg |
OD | Salmonella infection 10 - 14 days |
| Chlorphenamine | PO | 1m-2yrs: 1 mg | BD | |
| 2-6 yrs: 1 mg 6-12 yrs: 2 mg 12-18 yrs: 4 mg |
QID | |||
| Ciprofloxacine | PO | 10-15 mg/kg (max 500 mg) |
BD | Salmonella infection: 7-10 days |
| Codeine phosphate | PO | 0.5-1 mg/kg (max 240 mg/day) |
4-6 | |
| Cotrimoxazole (Trimethoprim/ sulphamethoxazole) | PO | 80 mg/kg (max 1920 mg - 4 x 480mg tablets) | TDS | For PCP treatment (give 21 days) For PCP-prophylaxis CPT |
| Dexamethasone | PO, IV | Croup, Asthma: 0.6 mg/kg | STAT | |
| Cerebral edema: Loading dose: 1 to 2 mg/kg/dose stat, than maintenance: 1 to 1.5 mg/kg/d in 4-6 divided doses, max 16 mg/d | 4-6 | |||
| Diazepam | PR | 0.5mg/kg | STAT | Convulsion. For sedation half dose CAVE resp. depression |
| IV | 0.25mg/kg | |||
| Digoxin (no digitalization, start with maintanance dose) | PO | 2-5 yrs = 10mcg/kg 5-10 yrs = 6mcg/kg >10 yrs = 250-750 mcg |
OD | Always discuss with seniors prior to administration |
| Enalapril | PO | start with 2.5 mg OD in children 20-50kg (max 20 mg/day) | OD-BD | |
| Ferrous Sulphate | PO | 3-6 kg: 1ml syrup 6-10 kg: 1.25 ml syrup 10-15 kg: 2 ml syrup or ½ tab 15-20 kg: 2.5 ml syrup or ½ tab >20 kg: 4 ml syrup or 1 tab |
OD | Give for 14 days Anaemia and Malaria Doses calculated for: Iron syrup: Ferrous fumarate 100mg/5ml, Iron Tab: 200mg. |
| Flucloxacillin | IV/IM | 25-50 mg/kg | 4 | |
| Fluconazole | PO | 3-6 mg/kg | OD | Oesophageal candida |
| 12mg/kg for 2 weeks then 6mg/kg for life | Cryptococcal meninigitis | |||
| Folic acid | PO |
<2: 2.5mg >2: 5mg |
OD | Anaemia and Malaria |
| Furosemide | PO | Neonate: 0.5-2 mg/kg OD-BD Infant or Child 0.5-2 mg/kg BD/TDS, higher doses may be required in resistant oedema maximum 12 mg/kg (80 mg) |
Oedema in heart failure | |
| IV | Neonate: 0.5-1 mg/kg every 12-24 hours Infant or Child: 0.5-1 mg/kg (maximum 4 mg/kg) repeated every 8 hours as necessary |
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| Infant or Child: 2-5 mg/kg (maximum 250 mg) up to four times daily | Oliguric renal failure | |||
| Gentamicin | IV or IM | Neonate: 5 mg/kg Older child: 7.5 mg/kg |
OD | Oto- and nephrotoxicity |
| Griseofulvin | PO | 10 mg/kg | OD | For 6 weeks for tinea capitis |
| Hydralazine | PO | 0.5 mg/kg (max 7,5 mg/kg/day) | 2-3 | Hypertension |
| IV | 0.1-0,5 mg/kg (max 60 mg/day) | 4-6 | ||
| Hydrochlorthiazide | PO | 1-3 mg/kg/day divided into 1-2 doses | Hypertension | |
| Hydrocortisone | IV | 4mg/kg stat, then 2-4mg/kg | QID | |
| Ibuprofen | PO | 10 mg/kg (max 500mg/day) | 3-4 | |
| Isoniazid | PO | Isoniazid preventive therapy | ||
| Ketoconazole | PO | 15-30kg:100 mg >30kg: 200 mg |
OD | Dont give to children on Niverapine |
| Lisinopril | PO | 70 microgram/kg | OD (max 600 microgram/kg/day) | |
| Lumefantrine-Artemether (LA) | PO | 5-15kg: 1Tbl 15-25kg: 2Tbl 25-35kg: 3Tbl >35kg: 4Tbl |
BD | Dose at 0, 8 hours, then BD day 2 and 3 NB: adult tablets available, check dosing! |
| Magnesium-sulfate | IV | 40 mg/kg (diluted to at least 10 %) over 20 min. | STAT | see severe acute asthma for preparation |
| Mebendazole | PO | 100 mg | BD | For 3 days Alternative to Albendazole |
| Metronidazole | PO/IV | 7.5 mg/kg | TDS | e.g. for amoebiasis and intra-abdominal infections Side effects include headache, nausea and metalic taste |
| Morphine | PO | < 1yr: 0.1mg/kg > 1 yr: 0.2mg/kg |
6 | Dose can be adjusted depending on response Pain |
| Nevirapine | oral | <2500g: 1 ml syrup >2500g: 1.5 ml syrup |
OD | For six weeks in HIV exposed neonates |
| Nifedipine | PO | 0.25 mg/kg | 3-4 (max 2 mg/kg/day) | in Hypertension. Tablets are 5 mg. |
| Nystatin | PO | 100,000u (=1ml) | QID | Oral candidiasis |
| Omeprazole | PO | 1 mg/kg | OD | Tablets are 20 mg Give if patient takes long course of steroids or NSAID |
| Paracetamol | PO/PR | 10-20 mg/kg | QID | (500 mg tablets, or 125mg/5ml syrup) |
| Paraldehyde | IM | 0.2mls/kg | STAT | Convulsion |
| PR | 0.4mls/kg | |||
| Penicillin V | PO | 1m-1yr: 62.5 mg 1-6yr: 125 mg 6-12yr: 250 mg 12-18yr: 500 mg |
QID | |
| Pethidine | IM | 1 mg/kg (max 100mg) | PRN | Alternative to morphine, frequency needs adjustment to response Pain |
| Phenobarbitone | IM | Loading dose: 10-20 mg/kg Maintenance dose: 2.5-5 mg/kg |
nocte-BD | Convulsion and Epilepsy |
| PO | ||||
| Phenytoin | IV | Loading dose: 18mg/kg Maintenance dose: 2.5 - 5 mg/kg |
BD | Needs specific dilution and administration. Consult senior + BNF |
| PO | ||||
| Potassium (Slow K) | PO | 2-4 mmol/kg/day divided in 3-4 doses | Slow K tabs contain 8 mmol K each Hypokalemia for IV dosage | |
| Praziquantel | PO | 40 mg/kg | STAT | Give at night, 600mg tablets |
| Prednisolone | PO | 1 - 2 mg/kg (max 40 mg) | OD | Give for 3 days in Asthma. Also used in Nephrotic syndrome |
| Promethazine | PO | Allergy (2nd choice): 0.125 mg/kg/dose (max 12.5 mg) daytime/ 0.5 mg/kg/dose (max 25 mg) bedtime |
PRN to QID | Only ≥2 y. Multiple possible side effects: bradycardia, hyper/hypotension, agitation, ataxia, catatonia, confusion, ... |
| PO, IV, IM, rectal | Nausea and vomiting: 0.25 to 1 mg/kg/dose, max 25 mg | |||
| Propranolol | PO | 1-5 mg/kg/day divided into 3 doses | TDS | Hypertension, to prevent 'spells' in Tetralogy of Fallot |
| Salbutamol | NEB | <5yrs: 2.5mg >5yrs: 5mg (acute severe asthma) |
Repeat every 15 minutes if needed Asthma | |
| Inhaler | 100 mcg (2-10 puffs) | |||
| Spironolactone | PO | 0.5-3.3 mg/kg/day in divided doses | 1-2 | Potassium sparing diuretic |
| Sulfadoxine/ Pyrimethamine (Fansidar) | PO | 3-6 kg: ¼ tab 6-10 kg: ½ tab 10-15 kg: ¾ tab 15-20 kg: 1 tab 20-29 kg: 1½tab |
STAT | |
| Valproate (Sodium) | PO | Neonate: initially 20 mg/kg OD. Maintenance dose 10 mg/kg BD Infant or Child: initially 5-7.5 mg/kg BD (max 600 mg/day). Maintenance dose 10-15 mg/kg BD |
BD | Needs tapering in and out |
| Vitamin A | PO | <6m: 50,000u 6-12m: 100,000u >12 m: 200,000u |
OD | Give for 2 days in measles. If eye signs of Vit A deficiency or malnutrition, give 3rd dose 2-4 weeks after 2nd dose |
| Vitamin K | IM | preterm: 0.5 mg term: 1 mg |
STAT | at birth |
| slowly IV | Neonatal Vit K deficiency bleeding 1 mg | STAT to TDS | ||
| Vit K deficiency bleeding older child 1-10 mg | ||||
| X-Penicillin | IV | 50000 IU/kg in Sepsis, Pneumonia etc. 100000 IU/kg in Meningitis |
QID | |
| Zinc | PO | < 6m: 1/2 tablet (10 mg) per day for 10 days > 6m: 1 tablet (20 mg) per day for 10 days |
OD | Gastroenteritis |