Racecadotril Dosing for a 7-Year-Old Child
The recommended dose of racecadotril for a 7-year-old child is 1.5 mg/kg administered orally every 8 hours (three times daily) as an adjunct to oral rehydration therapy. 1, 2
Dosing Specifics
- Standard pediatric dose: 1.5 mg/kg given orally three times daily (every 8 hours) 1, 2
- This dosing regimen has been validated in multiple clinical trials for children aged 3 months to 5 years 1, 3, 2
- The medication should be used as an adjunct to oral rehydration solution, not as monotherapy 4, 5
Clinical Context and Safety
- Mechanism: Racecadotril works by inhibiting enkephalinase, providing an antisecretory effect without affecting intestinal motility 4
- Safety profile: Unlike loperamide, racecadotril has a better safety profile in young children with fewer adverse events, particularly less rebound constipation 5
- Tolerability: Adverse events are typically mild and transient when they occur 1
Important Contraindications and Caveats
- Avoid in bloody diarrhea or febrile diarrhea: Racecadotril should not be used when diarrhea is accompanied by blood or fever, as it might worsen outcomes 4
- Geographic availability: This medication is not available in North America but is widely used in many other countries 4
- Primary treatment remains hydration: The World Health Organization emphasizes that adequate hydration using appropriate oral rehydration solutions remains the primary focus, with racecadotril serving only as adjunct therapy 4
Expected Clinical Effects
- Racecadotril reduces stool output by approximately 46-50% in the first 48 hours compared to placebo 1, 2
- The medication decreases the duration of diarrhea and reduces the need for additional medical visits 6
- Treatment typically results in faster recovery without affecting gastrointestinal transit time or motility 5