Anticonvulsants

Pediatric Anticonvulsants Table

Drug Dose Infusion Rate Age Comments/Cautions
Levetiracetam
  • 60 mg/kg/dose IV/IO
  • MAX: 3000 mg/dose
Over 5 minutes Any Most commonly used agent
Fosphenytoin
  • 20 mg phenytoin equivalent (PE)/kg/dose IV/IO/IM
  • MAX: 1000 PE/dose
Over 10 minutes Any Choose alternate drug if on phenytoin at home; may decrease BP/HR
Valproic acid *

40 mg/kg/dose IV/IO

  • MAX: 3000 mg/dose
Over 10 minutes >2 years Caution in patients with liver dysfunction, mitochondrial disease, urea disorder, thrombocytopenia, or unexplained developmental delay
Phenytoin
  • 20 mg/kg/dose IV/IO
  • MAX: 1000 mg/dose
Over 20 minutes Any Choose alternate drug if on phenytoin at home; may decrease BP/HR
Phenobarbital
  • 20 mg/kg/dose IV/IO
  • MAX: 1000 mg/dose
Over 20 minutes <6 months Respiratory depression, especially in combination with benzos

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