A child weighs 33 lb and is prescribed oxycodone at 2 mg/kg. What is the dose in milligrams to administer?

A child weighs 33 lb and is prescribed oxycodone at 2 mg/kg. What is the dose in milligrams to administer?

• A. 15 mg
• B. 30 mg
• C. 60 mg
• D. 45 mg

Answer: (B)

Dosing in pediatrics is based on weight, using mg per kg. When weight is given in pounds, convert to kilograms first, then multiply by the prescribed mg/kg. Convert 33 lb to kilograms: 33 ÷ 2.2046 ≈ 15 kg. Multiply by 2 mg/kg: 15 × 2 = 30 mg. If you use the slightly more precise weight (14.97 kg), 14.97 × 2 ≈ 29.94 mg, which rounds to 30 mg. So the dose to administer per dose is 30 mg. Always confirm the medication concentration and use precise rounding rules for the available formulation.

Dosing in pediatrics is based on weight, using mg per kg. When weight is given in pounds, convert to kilograms first, then multiply by the prescribed mg/kg.

Convert 33 lb to kilograms: 33 ÷ 2.2046 ≈ 15 kg. Multiply by 2 mg/kg: 15 × 2 = 30 mg. If you use the slightly more precise weight (14.97 kg), 14.97 × 2 ≈ 29.94 mg, which rounds to 30 mg.

So the dose to administer per dose is 30 mg. Always confirm the medication concentration and use precise rounding rules for the available formulation.