Bromfed DM Dosing for a 63-Pound Pediatric Patient
For a 63-pound (28.6 kg) child, the appropriate dose of Bromfed DM is 5 mL (1 teaspoonful) every 4 hours, not to exceed 6 doses in 24 hours, as this weight falls within the 6 to under 12 years age category for standard dosing. 1
Weight-Based Dosing Determination
- A 63-pound child (approximately 28.6 kg) falls well below the 40 kg threshold where adult dosing would be considered 2, 3
- The FDA-approved dosing for brompheniramine (the antihistamine component in Bromfed DM) specifies that children 6 to under 12 years of age should receive 5 mL (1 teaspoonful) every 4 hours 1
- Since most children weighing 63 pounds are typically in the 6-12 year age range, this dosing category is appropriate 1
Specific Dosing Instructions
The recommended dose is 5 mL (1 teaspoonful) administered every 4 hours, with a maximum of 6 doses in any 24-hour period. 1
- Use an appropriate measuring device for liquid formulations to ensure accurate dosing 3
- This dose should not be exceeded without physician consultation 1
Critical Safety Considerations
- Pediatric medication dosing is a particularly high-risk activity that requires careful calculation and verification, as standardized unit doses are rarely used in children 2
- The act of calculating dosing equations has been identified as a high-error activity in pediatric emergency settings 2
- Children are not simply "small adults," and dosing should never be scaled down directly from adult doses using weight alone, as this approach is unreliable and potentially dangerous 4, 5
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- Do not use adult dosing (10 mL every 4 hours) for this patient, even though the weight approaches the typical range for older children 1
- Do not calculate doses using simple weight-based rules (such as Clark's weight rule or Young's age rule), as these have been shown to differ significantly from appropriate actual doses and are not considered responsible approaches to pediatric dosing 6
- Ensure the caregiver understands that "teaspoonful" means 5 mL measured with a proper dosing device, not a household teaspoon 3