Acetaminophen Dosing for a 22.1 kg Child
For a child weighing 22.1 kg, administer 325 mg of acetaminophen every 4-6 hours as needed, with a maximum daily dose of 1300 mg (four doses). This is based on the standard pediatric dosing of 10-15 mg/kg per dose 1.
Weight-Based Calculation
- At 22.1 kg, the recommended single dose range is 221-332 mg (10-15 mg/kg) 1
- The practical dose is 325 mg (one standard tablet or appropriate liquid volume), which provides approximately 15 mg/kg 1
- This weight falls well below the 40 kg threshold where adult dosing begins 1
Dosing Interval and Maximum Daily Limits
- Administer every 4-6 hours as needed for pain or fever 1
- Maximum of 4 doses in 24 hours (1300 mg total daily) to stay within safe limits 1
- The maximum daily pediatric dose should not exceed 75 mg/kg/day or 4000 mg/day, whichever is lower 1
Route of Administration
- Oral administration is the preferred route 1
- Use appropriate measuring devices such as oral syringes if using liquid formulation to ensure accurate dosing 1
- If oral route is not feasible, intravenous acetaminophen can be dosed at 15 mg/kg every 6 hours, not exceeding 60 mg/kg/day, infused over 15 minutes 1
Critical Safety Considerations
- Always use actual weight for dosing calculations, not estimated weight 2
- Studies show doctors' weight estimates for children can vary from 100% underestimates to 300% overestimates, making guessing dangerous for accurate drug dosing 2
- Hepatotoxicity is unlikely with therapeutic dosing but occurs with overdoses when plasma concentrations exceed 150 micrograms/mL 3
- Long-term therapeutic use at recommended doses does not appear to cause liver damage 3