Monday, March 9, 2009

Guaifenesin Dosage for Infants thru Adults

From the Clinician's Pocket Drug Reference 2008:

Guaifenesin
Uses: Relief of dry, nonproductive cough
Action: Expectorant (thins secretions so you can cough them out)
Dose:
Peds. <2years: 12mg/kg/day in 6 divided doses (every 4 hours)
2-5 years: 50-100mg every 4 hours, max. 600mg/day
6-11 years: 100-200mg every 4 hours, max 1.2g/day
Adults: 200-400mg every 4 hours (600-1200mg slow release every 12 hours)

Give with large amounts of WATER

Note: because Congress and the FDA assume you and I are stupid, I had to go dig this up the hard way. Congratulations, you know how to do math and use a clock, and saved $140 on a doctor's office visit for your or your child's dry cough.

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Edit/Update: Be prepared to comfort your baby when they can't breathe/retch/choke for a few seconds on their own sputum. Holding them sideways (laying down, horizontal) in a way that is comfortable for them (on your breast, lap, or their bed) may help them to breathe easier. If they are upright, what comes up will just go back down again.

2 comments:

katie said...

Thanks so much you saved me a $20 copay and probably a $10 Rx of guaifenesin! I couldnt find the individualized dose for less the 2 anywhere.

Jon the shooter said...

Thanks a ton. My little guy will be much more comfortable now.