Cetirizine Dosing for a 2-Year-Old Child Weighing 32.4 Pounds
Direct Answer
For a 2-year-old child weighing 32.4 pounds (14.7 kg), the recommended dose of cetirizine is 2.5 mg once daily, which can be increased to a maximum of 5 mg daily (given as 2.5 mg twice daily or 5 mg once daily) based on symptom severity. 1, 2
Age and Weight-Based Dosing
The provided evidence does not contain specific FDA-approved cetirizine dosing guidelines, but based on established pediatric antihistamine dosing principles and the research evidence:
- For children aged 2-5 years: The typical starting dose is 2.5 mg once daily 1, 2
- Maximum dose for this age group: 5 mg daily (can be given as 2.5 mg twice daily or 5 mg once daily) 1, 3
- At 32.4 pounds (14.7 kg), this child falls into the standard dosing category for toddlers aged 2-5 years 1
Clinical Considerations for This Patient
- Onset of action: Cetirizine provides rapid symptom relief with significant clinical effect occurring within 20 minutes of oral administration and persisting for 24 hours 2
- Sedation risk: Monitor for mild drowsiness, as cetirizine may cause sedation in some pediatric patients, though this is dose-dependent and generally mild 4, 1, 3
- Once-daily dosing: Consistent daily administration provides better symptom control for chronic allergic conditions 4
Formulation and Administration
- Cetirizine is available in liquid formulation (syrup/oral solution) appropriate for this age group 2
- The medication can be given with or without food 2
- Peak plasma levels are reached within 1 hour after intake 3
Safety Profile
- Cetirizine is well tolerated in children aged 2 years and older 1, 2
- No cardiac toxicity has been associated with cetirizine 2, 3
- Drug interactions are minimal as cetirizine does not significantly interact with medications metabolized by hepatic cytochrome P450 1, 2
- Renal excretion is the primary elimination route with a mean half-life of 8.3 hours 2
Important Monitoring Points
- Watch for excessive sedation, especially when initiating therapy, as cetirizine may cause more sedation than other second-generation antihistamines like fexofenadine or loratadine 4
- If sedation occurs and is problematic, consider reducing to 2.5 mg once daily 3
- For severe or refractory symptoms, doses up to 5 mg daily are safe and may be more effective 3