Ex-Lax Chocolate Chewable Dosing for 3-Year-Old, 30 lbs
For a 3-year-old child weighing 30 lbs (13.6 kg), the appropriate dose of Ex-Lax chocolate chewable tablets (sennosides) is ½ tablet once daily at bedtime as the starting dose, with a maximum of 1 tablet twice daily if needed. 1
Weight-Based Dosing Category
- This child falls into the 2 to under 6 years age group for sennosides dosing 1
- At 30 lbs, the child is well within this category (which spans approximately 24-48 lbs) 1
- The FDA-approved dosing for this age range is clear and specific 1
Specific Dosing Instructions
Starting dose:
- ½ tablet once daily, preferably at bedtime 1
- This conservative starting dose minimizes risk of cramping and excessive diarrhea while establishing efficacy 2
Maximum dose if needed:
- 1 tablet twice daily (total of 2 tablets per day) 1
- Only escalate to maximum dose if the starting dose proves insufficient after 2-3 days 1
Administration Guidelines
- Give preferably at bedtime to allow 6-12 hours for the medication to work, typically producing a bowel movement the following morning 1, 3
- The delay reflects the time needed for orocecal transit and bacterial metabolism of sennosides to their active form (rhein anthrone) 3, 4
- Can be chewed or swallowed whole 1
Critical Safety Considerations
Common pitfalls to avoid:
- Never start with the maximum dose – always begin with ½ tablet to assess tolerance 1
- Do not exceed 1 tablet twice daily (2 tablets total per day) in this age group, as this is the FDA-approved maximum 1
- Monitor for adverse effects including cramping (occurs in ~10% of patients) and diarrhea (occurs in 13-27% depending on dose) 2
Duration of use:
- Sennosides are intended for short-term use only 5
- Long-term use in large doses may cause melanosis coli and has theoretical concerns for colon cancer risk, though this is primarily documented in chronic adult use 5
- If constipation persists beyond 1 week, consult a physician 1