Question

Round weights and dosages to the nearest tenth as indicated. Order: Minoxidil for a child weighing 31 lb. The recommended dosage range is 0.25 to $1\mathrm{mg}/\mathrm{kg}/\mathrm{day}$ What is the safe dosage range for this child?

Short answer

The safe dosage range is 3.5 mg/day to 14.1 mg/day.

Step-by-step solution

Convert pounds to kilograms

To determine the dosage in mg per kg, we first need to convert the child's weight from pounds (lb) to kilograms (kg). The conversion factor is 1 kg = 2.2 lb. Thus, we calculate: $\text{Weight in kg}=\frac{31\text{ lb}}{2.2}\approx 14.1\text{ kg}$ (rounded to the nearest tenth).

Calculate the minimum dosage

Now that we have the weight in kg, we can calculate the minimum dosage using the lower limit of the dosage range (0.25 mg/kg/day). The formula is: $\text{Minimum dosage}=0.25\text{ mg/kg/day}\times 14.1\text{ kg}=3.525\text{ mg/day}$. Rounded to the nearest tenth, this is approximately 3.5 mg/day.

Calculate the maximum dosage

Next, we calculate the maximum dosage using the upper limit of the dosage range (1 mg/kg/day). The formula is: $\text{Maximum dosage}=1\text{ mg/kg/day}\times 14.1\text{ kg}=14.1\text{ mg/day}$.

Determine the safe dosage range

The safe dosage range for the child is the interval between the minimum and maximum dosages calculated. Therefore, the safe dosage range is from 3.5 mg/day to 14.1 mg/day.

Key concepts

Weight Conversion

Before calculating any dosages, it's important to convert the child's weight from pounds (lb) to kilograms (kg). This is because dosages for children are often prescribed based on their weight in the metric system. The formula for this conversion is straightforward: you divide the weight in pounds by 2.2 to find the equivalent in kilograms.
For example, a child who weighs 31 lb can be converted to kilograms with the calculation:

• Weight in kg = $\frac{31\text{ lb}}{2.2}\approx 14.1\text{ kg}$

Knowing the accurate weight in kilograms is crucial as it will directly influence the dosage calculations.

Safe Dosage Range

Determining the safe dosage range is vital for ensuring the medication prescribed remains within safe limits for the child. For Minoxidil, the recommended dose is between 0.25 and 1 mg per kg of body weight per day.
This means that for the previously calculated weight in kilograms, you can determine the safe dosage range by calculating the minimum and maximum dosages:

• Calculate Minimum Dosage: Minimum dosage = $0.25\text{ mg/kg/day}\times 14.1\text{ kg}=3.525\text{ mg/day}$.


• Calculate Maximum Dosage: Maximum dosage = $1\text{ mg/kg/day}\times 14.1\text{ kg}=14.1\text{ mg/day}$.

These calculations ensure the prescribed amount helps achieving the desired medical effect while minimizing the risk of toxicity.

Rounding Dosages

Rounding dosages to the nearest tenth helps in simplifying the dosing into practical amounts that can be accurately administered. It's especially important in the pediatric population where small differences can significantly impact safety.
For example, after calculating the minimum dosage of 3.525 mg, rounding to the nearest tenth gives you 3.5 mg. This is more practical than trying to measure exactly 3.525 mg.

• Rounded Minimum Dosage: 3.525 mg is rounded to 3.5 mg.
• Maximum Dosage remains at 14.1 mg as no rounding is necessary.

Rounded dosages not only ease the administration process but also ensure consistency in medication delivery.

Drug Dosage Calculation

Drug dosage calculation is a fundamental skill in the administration of pediatric medications. These calculations ensure that the child receives the correct amount of medicine to effectively treat their condition. Dosage calculations typically use the formula:

• Dosage = Recommended mg/kg/day $\times$ weight in kg

As pediatric dosages must be precise, understanding how to calculate these correctly prevents underdosing, which may be ineffective, and overdosing, which might lead to harmful side effects.
Ensuring accuracy in each step—from weight conversion to applying the formula—will help guarantee safe and effective medication management for young patients.