Injectable Paracetamol Dosing for a 12-Year-Old Girl Weighing 27 kg
For a 12-year-old girl weighing 27 kg, administer intravenous paracetamol 405 mg (15 mg/kg) every 6 hours, with a maximum daily dose of 2025 mg (75 mg/kg/day). 1, 2
Weight-Based Dosing Calculation
- The standard IV paracetamol dose is 15 mg/kg per dose every 6 hours for children weighing between 10-50 kg 1, 2
- For this 27 kg patient: 27 kg × 15 mg/kg = 405 mg per dose 2
- Maximum daily dose should not exceed 75 mg/kg/day (2025 mg/day for this patient), which equals four doses of 405 mg 3
Critical Dosing Considerations
- Doses should be based on actual body weight unless the child is overweight or obese, in which case ideal body weight should be used to prevent inadvertent overdosing 3
- At 27 kg, this 12-year-old falls within normal weight parameters, so actual body weight is appropriate for dosing 3
- Single doses totaling 150 mg/kg can cause severe hepatocellular necrosis, but adverse effects may occur with doses as low as 75 mg/kg in 24 hours 3
Administration Guidelines
- Administer IV paracetamol over 15 minutes 1
- Review IV route after 48 hours and switch to oral formulation (15-20 mg/kg every 4-6 hours) if the patient can tolerate oral intake 3
- Oral paracetamol may be given with meals to improve gastrointestinal tolerability 1
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- Do not prescribe IV and oral routes together on the same prescription without clear documentation, as this increases risk of exceeding maximum daily dose 3
- Always document weight on the prescription chart to enable dose verification by nursing staff 3
- Avoid prolonged IV use beyond 48 hours when oral route is feasible, as this increases costs without clinical benefit 3