Analgesics and sedatives (peds)
Introduction
Analgesia and sedation considerations, particularly in the nonverbal population, requires a more careful approach than typically needed in the adult population. Children may require sedation for procedures that are done with topical anesthetic in the adult population and evaluation of pain in infants and young children can be challenging. This page contains considerations for evaluation, options for anesthesia and sedation, and dosages for common analgesics.
Pediatric doses for Common Analgesics
Non-Opioid
- PO/PR: 10-15mg/kg/dose q4-6hrs
- Children’s Tylenol is 160mg/5ml
- Max: 75mg/kg/day or 4000mg/day
- PO: 4-10mg/kg/dose q6-8hrs
- Children’s Motrin is 100mg/5ml
- Max: 40mg/kg/day
- IM/IV: 0.5mg/kg/dose q6hrs
- PO: 1-2mg/kg/dose q4-6hrs
Opioid
Naloxone (opioid overdose reversal)
- IV/IM: 0.001-0.02mg/kg/dose
- IM/IV: 0.05-0.2mg/kg/dose q2-4hrs
- IV: 0.015mg/kg/dose q4-6hrs
- PO: 0.03-0.08mg/kg/dose q3-4hrs
- IV: 1-2 mcg/kg/dose q1-2hrs
- IN: 1-2 mcg/kg/dose via atomizer
- PO: 0.05-0.15mg/kg/dose q4-6hrs
- PO: 0.5=1mg/kg/dose q4-6hrs
- IV/PO: 0.05-0.1mg/kg/dose q6hrs
Combination Medication
Acetaminophen with Codeine
- PO: 0.5-1mg/kg/dose of codeine q4-6hrs
Acetaminophen with Hydrocodone
- PO: 0.15mg/kg/dose of hydrocodone q4-6hrs
Acetaminophen with Oxycodone
- PO: 0.05-0.15mg/kg/dose of oxycodone 14-6hrs
Sedatives
- IM: 0.05-0.15mg/kg; max 10mg
- IV:
- 6mo-5yr: 0.05-0.1mg/kg initially with up to 0.6mg/kg needed; max 6mg
- 6yr-12yr: 0.025-0.05mg/kg initially with up to 0.4mg/kg needed; max 10mg
- 12yr-16yr:1-2mg initially with up to 2.4-5mg needed; max 10mg
- PO: 0.25-0.5mg/kg; max 20mg
- IV/PO: 0.05-0.1mg/kg q4-8hrs
- IV: 0.5-2mg/kg
- IM: 3-7mg/kg
- PO: 25-50mg/kg
- IV: 1-2mg/kg over 30 seconds
- IV: 0.3mg/kg