The respiratory therapist verifies an order to administer albuterol 1.25 mg to a 2-kg infant. Why does this dose have the same safety and efficacy profile as a 2.5-mg dose in the adult?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This reduced efficiency may result in infants receiving weight-appropriate dosing compared with adults. For example, the deposition efficiency of 0.5% of a standard dose of albuterol sulfate (2500 µg) would result in a lung dose of 12.5 µg, or 6.25 µg/kg for a 2-kg infant, whereas a 70-kg adult with 10% deposition has a lung dose of 250 µg, equivalent to 3.6 µg/kg. In this example, the infant actually receives a similar but slightly greater dose per unit weight. To some extent, the reduced deposition of aerosolized bronchodilators results in safety and efficacy profiles for infants and children similar to those reported for adults.

The Respiratory Therapist Verifies an Order to Administer Albuterol 1