Amoxycillin dose question

cubuff98

My 15 month old got diagnosed with an ear infection today and the doc prescribed amoxycillin 400 mg./5ml (1 tsp.) dose twice a day.  When I got to the pharmacist, he made a comment like that was a strong dose and to make sure I don't give her more than that.  It freaked me out a little.  Does this seem like a lot to you?  She is about 23 pounds.

RandiDeeAnn

This is a soap box and not medical advice, but IMO Amoxycillin is crap anyway. I don't remember the makeup of the amoxycillin Jana was on, but I think it was 1 tsp./twice a day.

murfygirl

That is what DS has always taken even way back when he got his first ear infection at 6 months.

bump54321

That is the exact dosage/frequency of Amox DS was just prescribed today and he is 19 lbs.  

emberlee3

My DS was on 6 ml the last time he was on amoxicillin & I think he was around 23-24 lbs.  

 

 

emberlee3

RandiDeeAnn:

This is a soap box and not medical advice, but IMO Amoxycillin is crap anyway. I don't remember the makeup of the amoxycillin Jana was on, but I think it was 1 tsp./twice a day.

WTF?  Amoxicillin is the first-line recommended antibiotic for ear infections in children.  My son has had it several times.  It always works and side effects are minimal.

ohfour

I'm not sure about your dose, but DH is a PharmD and has called Dr.s before to double check because their dosing was too much and they have yelled at him and told him to fill the script. Dr.s don't always go by the recommended amounts from what I've gathered lol.

Mee83shell

Nope--that's a fine does. My LO is also taking AMOXICILLIN and has taken it several times & it's always been 1tsp twice daily.

ETA: There are two different concentrations of amoxicllin, and the 400mg/5ml is the "usual" concentration that is used.

g8orell

cubuff98:

My 15 month old got diagnosed with an ear infection today and the doc prescribed amoxycillin 400 mg./5ml (1 tsp.) dose twice a day.  When I got to the pharmacist, he made a comment like that was a strong dose and to make sure I don't give her more than that.  It freaked me out a little.  Does this seem like a lot to you?  She is about 23 pounds.

That's fine. I use Epocrates (an app on my iPhone) when I need to dose weight-based meds to my patients. I double checked. The usual dose for Amoxicillin for acute otitis media (ear infection) is between 80-90 mg/kg/day.

Your LO is 23lbs ( divide by 2.2 to get kg)...so she's about 11kg

So 80mg x 11kg = 880mg total per day; divide that by two doses since she's getting it 2x day = 440mg per day. Each tsp (5mL) of 400mg/5mL is 400mg. So that's right. She's getting 800 mg per day (just under the 880mg...which is fine).

The pharmacist probably said that because for other bacterial infections, the dose is 30-45mg/kg/day, but with an ear infection its double the dose.

maddmask

DS was on it last month for an ear infection as well.  He got 1.5 tsp, twice a day.  Wonder why he got more than everybody else here. . . He's about 23 pounds now.

g8orell

maddmask:

DS was on it last month for an ear infection as well.  He got 1.5 tsp, twice a day.  Wonder why he got more than everybody else here. . . He's about 23 pounds now.

There are many concentrations...could be your LO was prescribed a lower concentration, thus needing more tsps.

There is 125/5cc, 200/5cc, 250/5cc, and 400/5cc

Suzi-G-

That's exactly the dose we gave when DS had an ear infection a few weeks ago.  He's a little younger than your LO but about the same size.