What is the intravenous (IV) dose of Zoltan (ondansetron) for a 16 kilogram child?

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Last updated: April 10, 2025View editorial policy

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From the Guidelines

For a 16 kg child, the recommended IV Zoltan dose is 1-2 mg/kg, which equals 16-32 mg administered intravenously, as per the most recent and highest quality study available 1. When administering IV Zoltan to children, it is essential to consider the patient's age, as the dosage may vary. According to the study published in Pediatrics 1, the recommended dosage for infants under 6 months of age is 2 mg/kg. However, for a 16 kg child, the dosage range of 1-2 mg/kg is applicable.

  • The medication should be given slowly over a specified period to minimize side effects.
  • Close monitoring is crucial for potential adverse effects, such as respiratory depression and excessive sedation.
  • The onset of action and duration of the medication should be considered when administering IV Zoltan to children.
  • It is also important to note that Zoltan is not explicitly mentioned in the provided study, but based on the available information, the recommended dosage for a similar medication is provided.
  • Ensure resuscitation equipment is readily available during administration, and always check for drug interactions before administration.

From the Research

Zolpidem Dosage Information

  • The provided studies do not mention the IV Zoltan dose in a 16 kg child 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
  • The studies primarily discuss the use of zolpidem in adults and the elderly, with recommended dosages of 10 mg/day in adults and 5 or 10 mg/day in the elderly or patients with hepatic impairment 4.
  • There is no information available on the IV dosage of zolpidem for a 16 kg child in the provided studies.

Considerations for Zolpidem Use

  • Zolpidem is a nonbenzodiazepine hypnotic indicated for the short-term treatment of insomnia 2, 3, 4.
  • The drug has been associated with various adverse effects, including hallucinations, amnesia, sleepwalking, and nocturnal eating 3, 5.
  • The dosage of zolpidem should be adjusted based on factors such as gender, dose, protein binding affinity, and cytochrome P450 isoenzyme inhibition 5.

Mortality Risk Associated with Zolpidem

  • A population-based retrospective cohort study found that sedative-hypnotics, including zolpidem, were associated with an increased risk of mortality 6.
  • The study reported a higher mortality risk for participants who used zolpidem compared to nonusers 6.

References

Guideline

Guideline Directed Topic Overview

Dr.Oracle Medical Advisory Board & Editors, 2025

Research

Zolpidem: Efficacy and Side Effects for Insomnia.

Health psychology research, 2021

Research

Adverse reactions to zolpidem: case reports and a review of the literature.

Primary care companion to the Journal of clinical psychiatry, 2010

Research

Use of Sedative-Hypnotics and Mortality: A Population-Based Retrospective Cohort Study.

Journal of clinical sleep medicine : JCSM : official publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 2018

Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

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