Nurses, Pharmacists I have a prescription drug question re: amounts

[preshi]

My 4 yr old 40 lb son got 2 ear infections and was prescribed 800mg of Amoxicillin BID, I went to the dr because I also got this cold/infection and my doc prescribed me 500mg of Amoxi TID... so that means DS is getting 100mg more medicine than I am a day and I am almost 4 times his weight. Something doesn't seem right to me even though a the clinic dr and pharmacist say it's ok...

Am I nuts?

 

[floridaminnie]

What's the dosage he's taking?

 

[preshi]

He's getting 16mL's (so like 3 tsps) two times a day (1600mg's) I'm taking 3 500mg pills =1500mg's a day

It's probably correct doasge but it just seems so odd to me that they'd give small DS more medicine than me.

 

[kylara]

Could it be because you as an adult have a stronger immune system than a child would? I know that childrens immune systems are not as strong. It is why my niece has to take an antibiotic before having teeth pulled, filled etc (for a heart murmur) that she won't have to do as an adult. Just a thought.

 

[RNMOM]

Dosages are calculated on mg/lb or Kg. in children. In adults it is usually a set dose without concern for weight.

I don't have and can't find the formula for amoxicillin on line so I can't tell you what it is. Someone out there will have it. I will look again.

Information below added from www.fda.gov site

The table below summarizes the dosing regimens of amoxicillin for adults and pediatrics that should provide an adequate time of systemic exposure (plasma concentrations) above the MIC for susceptible isolates of B. anthracis over the majority of the dosing interval.

 

[DocRafiki]

Amoxicillin has a very wide margin of safety. Also, some drugs don't concentrate well in certain areas of the body. This might be the case with amoxicillin in the part of the ear that is infected, thus requiring a higher dosage. It would take a higher blood concentration to reach the needed concentration in the ear. That would be my first guess.

B. anthracis? What, are we treating anthrax here?