A mother calls a nurse to say that she lost the measuring cup that comes with the cough syrup botle. How many teaspoons should the nurse recommend for the child if the dose is 10 mL?

To answer this question, we need to understand the principles of pediatric dosage calculations and the factors that affect them. Pediatric dosages are usually calculated based on the child's weight or body surface area, and sometimes adjusted for age, organ function, or disease severity¹. However, not all medications that are used in adults are safe or effective in children. Some medications may have different pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, adverse effects, or interactions in children than in adults².

Therefore, it is important to check the drug insert or label for any contraindications, warnings, or precautions for pediatric use before prescribing or administering a medication to a child. If the drug insert states that the medication is not for pediatric use, it means that the medication has not been tested or approved for use in children, or that it has been shown to be harmful or ineffective in children. In this case, a pediatric dose calculated from an adult dose should be avoided, as it may result in serious toxicity or therapeutic failure. The healthcare provider should consult a pediatric specialist, a pharmacist, or a reliable drug reference for alternative medications or dosing recommendations.

The other options are not correct because they do not necessarily warrant avoiding a pediatric dose calculated from an adult dose.

Option a. If the drug insert does not specify a pediatric dose, it means that there is insufficient data or evidence to support a specific pediatric dose, but it does not mean that the medication is contraindicated or unsafe in children. The healthcare provider should use clinical judgment and available resources to determine the appropriate dose for the child³.

Option b. If the child has an elevated temperature that has not responded to treatment, it means that the child may have an infection or inflammation that may affect the absorption, distribution, metabolism, or excretion of some medications. The healthcare provider should monitor the child's condition and adjust the dose accordingly, but it does not mean that the medication should be avoided altogether⁴.

Option c. If the child has gained or lost weight in the past month, it means that the child's weight may have changed significantly since the last dose calculation. The healthcare provider should weigh the child and recalculate the dose based on the current weight, but it does not mean that the medication should be avoided altogether.

To find the milligrams per minute, you need to calculate the following:

- The volume of Lopressor in milliliters
- The infusion rate in milliliters per minute using the formula: Infusion rate (mL/min) = Total volume (mL) / Time (min)
- The dose of Lopressor in milligrams per minute using the formula: Dose (mg/min) = Infusion rate (mL/min) x Concentration (mg/mL)

First, divide the dose of Lopressor by the concentration to get the volume in milliliters:

5 mg / 1 mg/mL = 5 mL

Next, use the formula for infusion rate to find how many milliliters per minute the IV pump should deliver:

Infusion rate (mL/min) = Total volume (mL) / Time (min)

Since the total volume is 5 mL and the time is 2 minutes, plug in these values into the formula:

Infusion rate (mL/min) = 5 mL / 2 min

Simplify and solve for the infusion rate:

Infusion rate (mL/min) = 2.5 mL/min

Then, use the formula for dose to find how many milligrams per minute the patient should receive:

Dose (mg/min) = Infusion rate (mL/min) x Concentration (mg/mL)

Since the infusion rate is 2.5 mL/min and the concentration is 1 mg/mL, plug in these values into the formula:

Dose (mg/min) = 2.5 mL/min x 1 mg/mL

Simplify and solve for the dose:

Dose (mg/min) = 2.5 mg/min

Therefore, the patient should receive **2.5 mg/min** of Lopressor.