A 6-year-old patient who weighs 22 kg is prescribed 250 mg of amoxicillin to be taken three times a day. The package labeling states that the recommended dose for children weighing less than 40 kg is 20 mg/kg/day in divided doses every 8 hours. Which action should the medical assistant take?
Notify the provider that the ordered dose exceeds the weight-based recommendation.
Calculate and give the patient 150 mg per dose without contacting the provider.
Dispense the medication exactly as written without consulting anyone.
Reassure the caregiver that taking the capsules with food will prevent any problems.
The label recommends a total of 20 mg/kg/day. For a 22-kg child, that equals 440 mg per day (22 kg × 20 mg/kg). Dividing 440 mg by three doses gives about 147 mg per dose. The order for 250 mg three times a day provides 750 mg daily-well above the recommended range-so the medical assistant must alert the provider before the medication is dispensed.
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