Ibuprofen (Motrin) Dosing for 22.1 kg Child
For a child weighing 22.1 kg, administer ibuprofen 10 mg/kg per dose (approximately 220 mg), which can be given every 6-8 hours as needed, not exceeding 40 mg/kg per day or 1200 mg per day, whichever is lower.
Weight-Based Dosing Calculation
- The standard pediatric dosing for ibuprofen is 10 mg/kg per dose for pain and fever relief 1, 2
- For this 22.1 kg child, this equals approximately 220 mg per dose 1
- The maximum daily dose should not exceed 40 mg/kg/day (approximately 880 mg for this child) or the adult maximum of 1200 mg/day for over-the-counter use, whichever is lower 1, 2
Dosing Interval and Frequency
- Doses can be administered every 6-8 hours as needed, with the understanding that the duration of action for a 200-400 mg dose is at least 6 hours 3
- For optimal pain control, maintaining the 6-hour interval is preferable to extending to 8 hours 3
- The drug should be used for the shortest duration necessary to control symptoms 1, 2
Safety Considerations
- At over-the-counter doses (up to 1200 mg/day for up to 10 days), ibuprofen has an excellent safety profile with gastrointestinal adverse events comparable to placebo in healthy populations 4
- The risk of serious gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, and renal events is very low at these doses due to ibuprofen's short plasma half-life and moderate COX-1/COX-2 inhibition 1
- Always use actual measured weight rather than estimated weight, as studies show doctors' weight estimates can vary by up to 300% overestimation or nearly 100% underestimation, which could lead to dangerous under- or overdosing 5
Practical Administration
- For a 220 mg dose, this could be administered as:
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- Do not estimate the child's weight—always use an actual measured weight for accurate dosing 5
- Do not exceed 40 mg/kg/day total daily dose 1
- Do not use for more than 10 consecutive days without medical supervision 4
- Ensure adequate hydration, especially if the child has fever or is at risk for dehydration 1