Dimenhydrinate Dosage for a 3-Year-Old Child
For a 3-year-old child, the recommended dosage of dimenhydrinate is 1.25 mg/kg of body weight administered four times daily, with a maximum daily dose not exceeding 300 mg.
Dosing Guidelines
The FDA-approved dosing for dimenhydrinate in pediatric patients is based on weight or body surface area 1:
- 1.25 mg/kg of body weight administered four times daily
- OR 37.5 mg/m² of body surface area administered four times daily
- Maximum daily dose should not exceed 300 mg
Practical Administration
For a typical 3-year-old child (approximately 14-16 kg):
- Calculated dose would be approximately 17.5-20 mg per dose
- Administered four times daily (approximately every 6 hours)
- Total daily dose would be 70-80 mg
Safety Considerations
When administering dimenhydrinate to young children, several important safety factors should be considered:
- Sedation: Dimenhydrinate commonly causes drowsiness in children, which may affect their activities and alertness 2
- Duration of effect: The antiemetic effect typically lasts approximately 4 hours 1
- Monitoring: Children should be monitored for excessive sedation or paradoxical excitation
- Toxicity threshold: Children under 6 years who ingest more than 7.5 mg/kg should be referred to emergency care 3
Administration Routes
While oral administration is most common for outpatient use, other routes are available when necessary:
- Oral: Preferred for routine use
- Intramuscular: 1.25 mg/kg per dose when oral route is impractical 1
- Intravenous: Should be diluted and administered slowly over 2 minutes when given IV 1
Clinical Pearls
- Dimenhydrinate is commonly used for motion sickness and vomiting in children
- Administration with food may improve gastrointestinal tolerability
- Avoid use with other medications that cause sedation unless specifically directed by a healthcare provider
- Measure liquid formulations carefully using a calibrated measuring device, not household spoons
- Effects typically begin within 15-30 minutes of oral administration
Always ensure the correct formulation is used for the intended route of administration, and verify the concentration of liquid formulations to avoid dosing errors in this vulnerable age group.