Levodropropizine Dosing Recommendations
Adult Dosing
For adults requiring levodropropizine for cough suppression, the recommended dose is 75 mg three times daily. 1
- This dosing regimen (75 mg tid) is supported by the CHEST guideline on symptomatic treatment of cough in adult patients with lung cancer 1
- The medication is classified as a peripherally acting antitussive that appears equally effective to dihydrocodeine or moguisteine, with possible earlier cough reductions compared to dextromethorphan 1
- A single 60 mg dose formulation (both capsule and syrup) has been studied in healthy adults and demonstrates bioequivalence between formulations 2
Pediatric Dosing
For children requiring levodropropizine, the recommended dose is 2 mg/kg/day divided into three doses (approximately 0.67 mg/kg per dose three times daily). 3, 4
- This weight-based dosing of 2 mg/kg/day has been evaluated in children aged 4.5 years ± 3.5 years with various respiratory tract diseases 3
- The medication should be administered three times daily for optimal antitussive effect 4
- In comparative studies, levodropropizine at 2 mg/kg three times daily demonstrated statistically significant decreases in coughing frequency and nocturnal awakenings (P < 0.001) 4
- Levodropropizine carries a lower risk of daytime somnolence compared to the racemic dropropizine formulation (5.3% vs 10.3%), making it preferable for pediatric use 4
Clinical Considerations
- Duration of therapy: Treatment is typically continued for 3-5 days and withdrawn according to clinical evolution 3
- Onset of action: Significant antitussive effects are observed within 1 hour of administration, with sustained effects lasting up to 6 hours 5
- Tolerability: Levodropropizine is well-tolerated with mild gastrointestinal symptoms being the most common adverse effect; serious adverse events are rare 2, 4
- Formulation options: Available as oral drops, syrup, and capsules with demonstrated bioequivalence between formulations 2