Co-amoxiclav 457mg/5ml Dosing Calculation
The question cannot be answered as written because the 457mg/5ml suspension formulation is not a standard co-amoxiclav preparation, and no patient age or weight is provided to determine the appropriate dose.
Critical Issue with the Formulation
- The 457mg/5ml suspension does not correspond to any standard co-amoxiclav formulation listed in FDA labeling or clinical guidelines 1
- Standard pediatric co-amoxiclav suspensions are available as:
Standard Pediatric Dosing by Age
If this were a standard formulation, the volume per dose would depend entirely on the patient's age:
- Children <1 year: 2.5 ml/kg of 125/31 suspension three times daily 2, 3
- Children 1-6 years: 5 ml of 125/31 suspension three times daily 2, 3
- Children 7-12 years: 5 ml of 250/62 suspension three times daily 2, 3
Dosing Frequency Clarification
- The question specifies "every 12 hours" (twice daily), but standard pediatric co-amoxiclav dosing for most infections is three times daily (every 8 hours) 2, 1
- Twice-daily dosing is typically reserved for specific higher-strength adult formulations (875/125 mg tablets or 400/57 mg per 5ml suspension) 1, 4
Total Volume Calculation (If Dosing Were Clarified)
For a 7-day course given every 12 hours:
- Total doses = 2 doses/day × 7 days = 14 doses
- Total volume = [ml per dose] × 14 doses
For standard three-times-daily dosing:
- Total doses = 3 doses/day × 7 days = 21 doses
- Total volume = [ml per dose] × 21 doses
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- Never substitute different co-amoxiclav formulations - the 250/125 mg and 500/125 mg tablets contain the same amount of clavulanate (125 mg), making them non-interchangeable 1
- Weight-based dosing for infants <1 year is critical - a fixed 2.5 ml dose would be inappropriate; the dose must be 2.5 ml/kg 2
- Verify the actual formulation available before calculating total volume, as using an incorrect strength could result in significant under- or overdosing 3
To provide an accurate answer, clarification is needed regarding: (1) the actual co-amoxiclav formulation available, (2) the patient's age or weight, and (3) confirmation of the intended dosing frequency.