Remote Primary Health Care Manuals

Other medicines doses table 

This table must be used with protocols from CARPA STM (8th ed) or WBM (7th ed) – it does not provide all the information needed for appropriate treatment

† = other strengths and forms available. Doses in brackets (mL, tab) only apply to forms and strengths listed. Doses (mL) rounded up to nearest 0.2ml unless this is more than 10% above recommended dose.
Medicine and presentation Common uses Route and frequency Dosage Amount per dose Notes
New- born 3 months 6 months 1 year 2 years 4 years 6 years 8 years 10 years 12 years 14+years
3.3kg 6.2kg 7.6kg 9kg 12kg 16kg 20kg 25kg 32kg 40kg 50kg+
Benzatropine†
Inj: 1mg/mL (2mL)

Pregnancy: B2 – safe to use
Breastfeed: Appears safe

Oculogyric crisis

IM or IV
Single dose

 20microgram/
kg/dose		 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 0.3mg
(0.3mL)		 0.4mg
(0.4mL)		 0.5mg
(0.5mL)		 0.6mg
(0.6mL)		 0.8mg
(0.8mL)		 1mg
(1mL)

Dexamethasone†
Inj: 4mg/mL (1mL, 2mL)
Pregnancy: A – safe, but use lowest dose for shortest time
Breastfeed: Use alternative if available

 Meningitis

IV or             IM if no IV access
Single dose

 0.15mg/kg/dose 0.5mg
(0.1mL)		 0.93mg
(0.2mL)		 1.14mg
(0.3mL)		 1.35mg
(0.35mL)		 1.8mg
(0.5mL)		 2.4mg
(0.6mL)		 3.0mg
(0.8mL)		 3.75mg
(1mL)		 4.8mg
(1.2mL)		 6.0mg
(1.5mL)		 50kg
7.5mg
(1.9mL) 60kg
9mg
(2.3mL)
70kg+
10mg
(2.5mL)		 Give IV over 1–3 min.
Give IM if no IV access

Hydrocortisone
Inj: 50mg/mL
Pregnancy: A– safe, but use lowest dose for shortest time
Breastfeed:  Safe to use, avoid high doses

 Meningitis IV
Single dose

4mg/
kg/dose

 13.2mg
(0.3mL)		 24.8mg
(0.5mL)		 30.4mg
(0.6mL)		 36mg
(0.7mL)		 48mg
(1mL)		 64mg
(1.3mL)		 80mg
(1.6mL)		 100mg
(2mL)		 128mg
(2.6mL)		 160mg
(3.2mL)		 200mg
(4mL)		 Give IV over 1 min.
Give IM if no IV access
Severe asthma IM or IV
Single dose		 13.2mg
(0.3mL)		 24.8mg
(0.5mL)		 30.4mg
(0.6mL)		 36mg
(0.7mL)		 48mg
(1mL)		 64mg
(1.3mL)		 80mg
(1.6mL)		 100mg
(2mL)

Ibuprofen
Susp: 20mg/mL
Tab: 200mg, 400mg
Pregnancy: C– avoid
Breastfeed: Safe to use

 Dental pain
Redback spider		 Oral
3 times a day (tds)		 10mg/ kg/dose N/A 62mg
(3.1mL)		 76mg
(3.8mL)		 90mg
(4.5mL)		 120mg
(6mL)		 160mg
(8mL)		 200mg
(10mL)		 250mg
(12.5mL)		 320mg
(16mL)		 400mg
(20mL or 1 tab)

Levetiracetam
Inj#: 100mg/mL (5mL)
Pregnancy: B3 – get advice
Breastfeed: Caution

 Head injury IV
Loading dose		 20mg/
kg/dose		 66mg
(0.7mL)		 124mg
(1.2mL)		 152mg
(1.5mL)		 180mg
(1.8mL)		 240mg
(2.4mL)		 320mg
(3.2mL)		 400mg
(4mL)		 500mg
(5mL)		 640mg
(6.4mL)		 800mg
(8mL)		 1g
(10mL)

# Mix measured dose with 100mL normal saline or glucose 5%. 

Give by IV infusion over 15 minutes  (head injury), 5 minutes (fits)

Fits

IV or intraosseous
Loading dose

 40mg/
kg/dose		 132mg
(1.3mL)		 248mg
(2.5mL)		 304mg
(3mL)		 360mg
(3.6mL)		 480mg
(4.8mL)		 640mg
(6.4mL)		 800mg
(8mL)		 1g
(10mL)		 1.28g
(12.8mL)		 1.6g
(16mL)		 2g
(20mL)
Naloxone
Inj#: 0.4mg/mL (1mL, 5mL)
Pregnancy: B1– medical consult in opioid-dependent women
Breastfeed: May be used		 Over-sedation (opioids)  IV 0.01mg/
kg/dose		 0.03mg
(0.3mL)		 0.06mg
(0.6mL)		 0.08mg
(0.8mL)		 0.09mg
(0.9mL)		 0.12mg
(1.2mL)		 0.16mg
(1.6mL)		 0.2mg
(2mL)		 # Mix with normal saline to give 0.1mg/mL — 1mL + 3mL, 5mL + 15mL
Ondansetron†
Wafer: 4mg, 8mg
Pregnancy: B1– safe to use after first trimester if all other options are not suitable
Breastfeed: Caution		 Head injuries Nausea and vomiting Oral wafer N/A 2mg

 4mg
(1 wafer – 4mg)		 8mg
(1 wafer – 8mg)		 Best anti-emetic when sedation not wanted.
Always do medical consult for children
Paracetamol†
Susp: 48mg/mL (240mg/5mL)
Tab: 500mg
Supp: 125mg, 250mg, 500mg
Pregnancy: A – safe to use
Breastfeed: safe to use		 Fever with pain
Pain

Oral
4 times a day (qid)
 

 15mg/
kg/dose		 49.5mg
(1.1mL)		 93mg
(2mL)		 114mg
(2.4mL)		 135mg
(2.8mL)		 180mg
(3.8mL)		 240mg
(5mL or ½ tab)		 300mg
(6.4mL or ½ tab)		 375mg (7.8mL
or 1 tab)		 480mg (10mL
or 1 tab)		 600mg (12.5mL or 1 tab) 1g
(2 tab)

If child dose for weight is more than dose for age — use dose for age

Supp
4 times a day (qid)
 

 N/A 125mg 250mg 500mg 1g
Prednisolone
Susp: 5mg/mL
Pregnancy: A– safe, but use lowest dose for shortest time
Breastfeed: Safe to use		 Asthma Oral 1mg/
kg/dose		 3.3mg
(0.7mL)		 6.2mg
(1.2mL)		 7.6mg
(1.5mL)		 9mg
(1.8mL)		 12mg
(2.4mL)		 16mg
(3.2mL)		 20mg
(4mL)		 25mg
(5mL)		 32mg
(6.4mL)		 40mg
(8mL)		 50mg
(10mL)		 Take after breastfeed and wait 4 hours before next feed
Promethazine†
Susp: 1mg/mL
Tab: 25mg
Inj: 25mg/mL (2ml)
Pregnancy: C – safe to use
Breastfeed: Appears safe		 Fly bite Oral
Once a day		 0.5mg/
kg/dose		 N/A 6mg
(6mL)		 8mg
(8mL)		 10mg
(10mL)		 12.5mg
(12.5mL)		 16mg
(16mL)		 20mg
(20mL)		 25mg
(1 tab)		 Best anti-emetic if sedation needed.
Always do medical consult for children
Nausea + vomiting
Sedation		 Oral
Nausea + vomiting
Sedation		 Deep IM 0.25mg/
kg/dose		 N/A 3mg
(0.1mL)		 4mg
(0.2mL)		 5mg
(0.2mL)		 6.25mg
(0.25mL)		 8mg
(0.3mL)		 10mg
(0.4mL)		 12.5mg
(0.5mL)


 


Tranexamic acid
Inj*: 100mg/mL
(5mL, 10mL)
Pregnancy: B1 – safe after first trimester
Breastfeed: Appears safe

Control bleeding in trauma

IV infusion
Loading dose

 15mg/kg/dose N/A 240mg
(2.4mL)		 300mg
(3mL)		 375mg
(3.75mL)		 480mg
(4.8mL)		 600mg
(6mL)		 1g
(10mL)

Loading dose:
For Adults:  Dilute 1g in 100mL of normal saline or 5% dextrose and infuse over 10 minutes.
For children: Inject undiluted over 10 minutes. Dilute with normal saline if necessary 

Maintenance dose

 2mg/kg/hour N/A 32mg
(32mL)		 40mg
(40mL)		 50mg
(50mL)		 64mg
(64mL)		 80mg
(80mL)		 100mg
(100mL)

Maintenance dose:

For Adults: Dilute 1g in 1,000mL of normal saline or 5% glucose and infuse over 8 hours.
For children: Dilute 500mg in 500mL of normal saline or 5% glucose to give 1mg/mL and infuse at 2mL/kg/hour over 8 hours (maximum dose 125mg per hour).

Control bleeding in postpartum haemorrhage Infusion
Loading dose		 15mg/kg/dose N/A 1g
(10mL)

Inject undiluted over 10 minutes. Dilute with normal saline if necessary.

Valproate†
Inj#: 400mg

Pregnancy D - avoid if possible
Breastfeed: Appears safe

 Fits IV or intraosseous
Single dose		 20mg/
kg/dose		 N/A 124mg
(2.5mL)		 152mg
(3mL)		 180mg
(3.6mL)		 240mg
(4.8mL)		 320mg
(6.4mL)		 400mg
(8mL)		 500mg
(10mL)		 640mg
(12.8mL)		 800mg
(16mL)		 800mg
(16mL)		 #Inject: Mix with normal saline to give 50mg/mL or less — 400mg + 8mL.
Inject over 15 minutes.
Infusion 1.6mg/
kg/hr		 N/A 9.92mg
(2.5mL)		 12mg
(3mL)		 14.4mg
(3.6mL)		 19.2mg
(4.8mL)		 25.6mg
(6.4mL)		 32mg
(8mL)		 40mg
(10mL)		 51.2mg
(12.8mL)		 64mg
(16mL)		 50kg
80mg
(20mL)
60kg
96mg
(24mL)
65kg+
104mg
(26mL)		 #Infuse: Mix with 100mL normal saline + 5% glucose to give 4mg/mL.
 

Pregnancy categories: 'Harm’ means to foetus. For more detail see AMH or Therapeutic Guidelines
Category A: Have been taken by large numbers of pregnant and fertile women without any known harm
Category B1: Have been used in a limited number of pregnant and fertile women without any known harm. Animal studies have not shown harm
Category B2: Women as for B1. Animal studies are less adequate, but no evidence of harm
Category B3: Women as for B1. Animal studies shown some evidence of harm, but not clear if this is significant for humans
Category C: Have caused or are suspected of causing non–permanent harm
Category D: Have caused or are suspected of causing permanent harm. Category C and D medicines are not always contraindicated for use in fertile women. The risks and benefits need to be discussed

Category X: Drugs which have such a high risk of causing permanent damage to the foetus that they should not be used in pregnancy or when there is a possibility of pregnancy

Note: † = Other strengths available

For more information and details on giving medicines see AMH, Therapeutic Guidelines, Medicines Book, Australian Injectable Drugs Handbook