Recommended Dosing References for Psychiatric Medications in Children and Adolescents
The Harriet Lane Handbook and The Pediatric Drug Handbook are the most practical and widely recommended dosing references for psychiatric medications in pediatric populations, providing comprehensive dosing tables specifically designed for children and adolescents. 1
Primary Dosing Resources (Category A - Essential for Basic Pharmacy Library)
The Pediatric Drug Handbook provides comprehensive dosing information specifically formatted for pediatric psychiatric medications and should be included in every clinical library serving children and adolescents 1
Harriet Lane Handbook offers practical, quick-reference dosing tables that are particularly useful for frontline clinicians managing psychiatric medications in pediatric patients 1
Manual of Pediatric Therapeutics contains detailed therapeutic protocols including psychiatric medication dosing algorithms for various age groups 1
Secondary Comprehensive Resources (Category B - More Extensive but Higher Cost)
Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics provides broader context for psychiatric medication use within general pediatric care, though it is more expensive and comprehensive than quick-reference guides 1
Rudolph's Pediatrics offers detailed pharmacological information but may be more extensive than needed for routine dosing reference 1
Current Pediatric Diagnosis and Treatment includes psychiatric medication dosing within the context of diagnostic and treatment algorithms 1
Practical Dosing Examples from Current Guidelines
When using these references, you should expect to find specific dosing parameters such as:
Risperidone dosing: Starting doses of 0.25-0.5 mg for children and 0.5-1 mg for adolescents, with target ranges of 0.5-2 mg/day for children and 0.5-3.5 mg/day for adolescents 2
Aripiprazole dosing: Initial doses of 2-5 mg for adolescents, with therapeutic ranges of 5-15 mg/day for children and adolescents aged 6-17 years 2
Olanzapine dosing: Starting doses of 7.5-10 mg daily with maximum doses of 20 mg/day in pediatric patients 3
Specialized References for Specific Clinical Scenarios
Problems in Pediatric Drug Therapy addresses complex dosing situations and medication management challenges specific to psychiatric medications 1
Textbook of Pediatric Intensive Care is essential when managing psychiatric medication complications or overdoses requiring intensive monitoring 1
Critical Monitoring Parameters to Reference
These dosing books should include comprehensive monitoring requirements that accompany psychiatric medication dosing, including baseline measurements of BMI, waist circumference, blood pressure, HbA1c or fasting glucose, lipid panel, prolactin level, liver function tests, and electrocardiogram before initiating antipsychotics 3