What is the weight of the child for whom a dose of oxycodone (OxyContin) is ordered?

• A. 33 lb.
• B. 50 kg
• C. 20 lb.
• D. 80 lb.

Answer: (A)

In pediatrics, dosing is based on the child’s weight, usually expressed as milligrams per kilogram per dose. To determine an oxycodone dose, you convert the child’s weight to kilograms and multiply by the mg/kg dose. Here the weight provided is 33 pounds, which is about 15 kilograms (33 ÷ 2.2 ≈ 15). With a common pediatric oxycodone dosing range of roughly 0.05–0.15 mg/kg per dose, a 15 kg child would receive about 0.75–2.25 mg per dose. If you used a larger or smaller weight, the calculated per-dose amount would change accordingly, potentially exceeding safe limits. So the weight used to calculate the dose is 33 pounds.