Pediatric Considerations
This volume of D
5
W will need to be reduced in dosing pediatric patients to avoid fluid overload/hyponatremia. Discuss with pharmacy.
ATROPINE
- Indications:
- Bradycardia owing to drugs
- Organophosphate insecticides
- Warnings:
- Myasthenia gravis, narrow-angle glaucoma, HTN, coronary ischemia, and urinary obstruction
- Dose:
- Adult: 1–2 mg IV
- Pediatric: 0.02 mg/kg (min. 0.1 mg) IV
- Large repeated doses needed in organophosphate poisoning
BENZTROPINE (COGENTIN)
- Indications: Acute dystonic reactions
- Warnings: Carbamates, myasthenia gravis, narrow-angle glaucoma, HTN, coronary ischemia, and urinary obstruction
- Dose:
- Adult: 1–2 mg IV (for acute reaction) or PO (to prevent reaction)
- Pediatric: 0.02 mg/kg IV (for acute reaction) or PO (to prevent reaction)
BENZODIAZEPINE
- Indications: Agitation, stimulant drugs, seizures
- Warnings: Respiratory/CNS depression
- Dose:
- Midazolam:
- Adult: 1 mg IV/IM every 2–3 min PRN
- Pediatric: 0.1 mg/kg IV/IM
- Diazepam:
- Adult: 2–5 mg IV/IM, repeat in 10–15 min
- Pediatrics: 0.1 mg/kg IV/IM
BICARBONATE, SODIUM
- Indications: Cyclic antidepressant poisoning, metabolic acidosis, urinary alkalinization
- Warnings: May cause CHF, excessive alkalosis, hypokalemia
- Dose:
- Serum alkalinization:
- Urine alkalinization:
- 100–150 mEq in 1 L DW at 2–3 mL/kg/h IV, goal urine pH 7—8
BLACK WIDOW SPIDER ANTIVENIN (LACTRODECTUS MACTANS)
- Indications: Severe HTN, muscle spasms not alleviated by analgesics and muscle relaxants; consider in extremes of age (<5 or >65 years), pregnant women with threatened abortion
- Warnings:
- Equine serum derived: Immediate hypersensitivity, serum sickness 10–14 days
- Premedicate for anaphylaxis if know equine serum hypersensitivity.
- Dose: 1–2 vials IM or IV slowly over 15–30 min; dilute 1 vial in 50 mL saline for IV
BOTULIN ANTITOXIN TRIVALENT A, B, E
- Indications: Clinical botulism, prior to onset of paralysis
- Warnings:
- Binds only free toxins
- Not for infant botulism
- Equine serum derived: Immediate hypersensitivity, serum sickness 10–14 days
- Premedicate for anaphylaxis if know equine serum hypersensitivity.
- Administer slow IV push.
- Dose: 1–2 vials IV q4h for 4 or 5 doses; reconstitute 1 vial with 2 mL sterile water. Administer 0.5 mL/kg/h IV. Double rate after 15 min if no ill effects.
CALCIUM
- Indications:
- Hyperkalemia with cardiac toxicity
- Hydrofluoric acid burn
- Calcium channel blocker overdose
- Citrate, oxalate, phosphate poisoning
- Warnings:
- Avoid in digoxin toxicity, hypercalcemia
- Calcium chloride (CaCl) corrosive to skin, SC tissue
- Incompatible with certain IV solutions
- Administer slow IV push.
- Dose:
- Adult: 5–10 mL of 10% CaCl, or 10–20 mL of 10% Ca gluconate
- Pediatric: 0.1–0.2 mL/kg of 10% CaCl, or 0.2–0.3 mL/kg of 10% Ca gluconate
CALCIUM EDTA (EDETATE DISODIUM)
- Indications: Lead, chromium, nickel, manganese, zinc toxicity
- Warnings: Nausea, vomiting, chill, nephrotoxicity, hypercalcemia
- Dose: 1 g/m
2
/day IV over 8–12 hr for 5 days, skip 2–4 days, then repeat. Follow lead (Pb) level
CORAL SNAKE ANTIVENIN (MICRURUS FULVIUS)
- Indications: Eastern or Texas coral snake
- Warnings:
- Equine serum derived: Immediate hypersensitivity, serum sickness 10–14 days
- Premedicate for anaphylaxis if we know the equine serum hypersensitivity.
- Dose: 4–10 vials slow IV push over 15–30 min
CYANIDE ANTIDOTE KIT
- Indications: Cyanide poisoning
- Warnings: Hypotension, methemoglobinemia
- Dose:
- Amyl nitrite: 1–2 amp crushed, inhaled
- Use amyl nitrite only until IV access is established
- Sodium nitrite:
- Adult: 300 mg in 10 mL IV over 5 min
- Pediatric: 0.3 mL/kg of 3% solution IV
- Sodium thiosulfate:
- Adult: 12.5 g IV, may repeat in 1 hr
- Pediatric: 50 mg/kg IV
HYDROXOCOBALAMIN
- Indications: Cyanide poisoning
- Warnings: Erythema, HTN
- Dose:
- Adult: 5 g IV over 15 min; may repeat a 2nd 5 g dose depending on severity of poisoning and clinical response. Max. 10 g. Reconstitiute each 2.5 g vial with 100 mL 0.9% NaCl
- Pediatric: Safety and efficacy have not been established in children. Suggested initial dose: 70 mg/kg IV.
DANTROLENE
- Indications:
- Malignant hyperthermia
- Neuroleptic malignant syndrome
- Serotonin syndrome
- Muscle rigidity
- Warnings: Muscle weakness, respiratory depression, hepatitis
- Dose: 1–2 mg/kg IV bolus, repeat q10–15 min PRN, max. 10 mg/kg
DEFEROXAMINE (DESFERAL)
- Indications: Iron toxicity
- Warnings:
- Do not treat for >24 hr, risk for delayed adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).
- Hypotension if >15 mg/kg/h, flushing, urticaria
- Dose: 10–15 mg/kg/h IV, may increase in severe iron (Fe) poisoning
DIGOXIN ANTIBODY (DIGIBIND)
- Indications: Digoxin, digitoxin toxicity
- Warnings:
- Falsely elevated digoxin levels after use
- Development of CHF/atrial fibrillation in patients requiring digoxin
- Dose:
- 1 vial (40 mg) binds 0.6 mg digoxin.
- Number of vials = digoxin level (ng/mL) × weight (kg)/100
- Dose estimate: Acute overdose 10–20 vials, chronic overdose 4–6 vials
DIMERCAPROL (BAL)
- Indications: Arsenic, gold, mercury, lead-induced encephalopathy
- Warnings: Renal toxicity, fever, nausea, vomiting, urticaria, cholinergic symptoms
- Dose:
- 3 mg/kg deep IM q4h for 2 days, then q12h for 7 days; follow metal levels
- For Pb level >100 μg/dL: 4–5 mg/kg IM q4h until Pb <50 μg/dL, in conjunction with EDTA
DIPHENHYDRAMINE (BENADRYL)
- Indications: Antihistamine, acute dystonic reaction
- Warnings: Sedation, excitation in children, anticholinergic symptoms
- Dose:
- Adult: 25–50 mg IV/IM/PO q4–6h
- Pediatric: 0.5–1 mg/kg IV/IM/PO q4–6h
SUCCIMER, CHEMET
- Indications: Pediatric lead poisoning
- Warnings:
- Caution in renal impairment—urinary elimination
- Nausea, vomiting diarrhea
- Dose: 10 mg/kg PO q8h for 5 days, then q12h for 14 days, then reassess blood lead levels
EPINEPHRINE
- Indications: Angioedema, anaphylaxis, acute asthma, spinal shock, β-blocker overdose
- Warnings: Dysrhythmias, HTN, tremor, anxiety
- Dose:
- Hypotension/shock:
- Adult: 1–4 μg/min IV infusion
- Pediatric: Start IV infusion at 0.1 μg/kg/min.
- Anaphylaxis
- Adult: 0.3–0.5 mg IM/SC
- Pediatric: 0.01 mg/kg IM/SC
ETHANOL
- Indications: Methanol or ethylene glycol toxicity
- Warnings:
- Disulfiram reaction, CNS sedation
- Hypoglycemia in pediatric population
- Increase dose during dialysis, for chronic alcoholics.
- Dose:
- IV: 10 mL/kg load as 10% solution over 1 hr, then 1 mL/kg/h maintenance
- PO: 1.5 mL/kg as 100-proof solution, then 0.3 mL/kg/h maintenance
- Goal: Ethanol level of 100–150 mg/dL
FLUMAZENIL (ROMAZICON)
- Indications: Benzodiazepine overdose
- Warnings:
- Contraindicated in tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) overdose
- Lowers seizure threshold
- Induces benzodiazepine withdrawal
- Dose:
- Adult: 0.2 mg IV slow, repeat q2–3min to 1 mg max.
- Pediatric: 0.01–0.05 mg/kg IV over 30 min–1 hr
FOMEPIZOLE (4-MP, ANTIZOL)
- Indications: Methanol or ethylene glycol toxicity
- Warnings: Nausea, dizziness, headache
- Dose: 15 mg/kg load IV, then 10 mg/kg q12h for 4 doses, then 15 mg/kg q12h
GLUCAGON
- Indications:
- β-blocker or calcium channel blocker overdose with bradycardia/hypotension
- Hypoglycemia
- Warnings:
- Nausea, vomiting, hyperglycemia
- Hypotension from diluent (phenol containing)
- Dose:
- β-blocker or calcium channel blocker overdose:
- Adult: 5–10 mg IV over 1 min
- Pediatric: 0.15 mg/kg IV over 1 min
- Hypoglycemia:
- Adult: 0.5–1 mg IM/IV/SC
- Pediatric: 0.025–0.1 mg/kg IM/IV/SC (max. 1 mg per dose)
INSULIN/GLUCOSE
- Indications:
- Calcium channel blocker overdose with severe hypotension/symptomatic bradycardia refractory to other therapies
- Hyperkalemia
- Warnings:
- Experimental therapy: Consult a poison control center/medical toxicologist.
- Follow serum glucose q15min for 1 hr after the 1st bolus or after any increase in dose, then q1h
- Dose:
- Bolus:
- 0.5–1 IU/kg regular insulin, followed by 25 g glucose (1 amp D
50
)
- Maintenance:
- Insulin 0.5 IU regular insulin per kg/hr, titrate to 1 IU regular insulin per kg/hr
- Glucose D
10
start at 100 mL/h (10 g/h) and titrate to keep glucose ≥100 mg/dL
INTRALIPIDS
- Indications:
- Cardiac arrest due to local anesthetic toxicity, most commonly bupivacaine, however may be useful for other lipid-soluble drugs
- Warnings:
- Experimental therapy: Consult a poison control center/medical toxicologist.
- Dose:
- Intralipid 20% bolus; 1.5 mL/Kg over 1 min followed by infusion 0.25 mL/kg/min.
- Repeat bolus in 3–5 min if circulation not restored.
METHYLENE BLUE
- Indications: Methemoglobinemia with dyspnea or >25%
- Warnings: G6-PD deficiency
- Dose: 1–2 mg/kg slow IV as 1% solution, repeat in 1 hr
NARCAN
- Indications:
- Opiate poisoning, empiric treatment of coma
- Warnings:
- Acute opiate withdrawal, severe agitation
- Dose:
- Adult: 0.4–2 mg IV or IM, repeat to 10 mg
- Pediatric: 0.1 mg/kg IV or IM
OCTREOTIDE
- Indications: Sulfonylurea overdose with hypoglycemia
- Warnings: Use with caution in diabetic patients.
- Dose:
- Adult: 50 μg SC q6h
- Pediatric: 4–5 μg/kg/d SC div. q6h
OXYGEN, HYPERBARIC
- Indications: Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning
- Warnings:
- Tympanic membrane (TM) perforation, seizures owing to oxygen toxicity
- Difficulty monitoring patient
- Dose: 100% oxygen at 2–3 atm