Ribavirin, pediatric dosing

Pediatric-The recommended dose is 15 mg/kg/day orally (divided dose AM and PM). For children weighing 25 kg or less or who cannot swallow capsules, ribavirin oral solution is supplied in a concentration of 40 mg/mL. For children weighing more than 25 kg, administer either the oral solution or 200 mg capsule. 

It is recommended that a patient whose hemoglobin level falls below 10 g/dL have his/her ribavirin dose reduced to 600 mg daily (1 x 200 mg capsule AM, 2 X 200 mg capsules PM) for adults and 7.5 mg/kg/day (divided dose AM and PM) for pediatric patients. Permanently discontinue ribavirin therapy in patients whose hemoglobin level falls below 8.5 g/dL. 

Englund JA, Piedra PA, Ahn YM, et al. High-dose, short-duration ribavirin aerosol therapy compared with standard ribavirin therapy in children with suspected respiratory syncytial virus infection. J Pediatr 1994 125 635-641. 

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