Pentazocine Dosage

Usual Adult Dose for Anesthesia

Initial dose: 30 mg by intramuscular, subcutaneous, or intravenous route. This may be repeated every 3 to 4 hours.

Doses in excess of 30 mg intravenously or 60 mg intramuscularly or subcutaneously are not recommended.

Maximum daily dose: 360 mg

Usual Adult Dose for Pain

Initial dose: 30 mg by intramuscular, subcutaneous, or intravenous route. This may be repeated every 3 to 4 hours.

Doses in excess of 30 mg intravenously or 60 mg intramuscularly or subcutaneously are not recommended.

Maximum daily dose: 360 mg

Usual Adult Dose for Labor Pain

Dose: 30 mg intramuscularly once has been the most common dose administered.

An intravenous 20 mg dose has given adequate pain relief to some patients in labor when contractions become regular. This dose may be given two or three times at two or three hour intervals as needed.

Usual Geriatric Dose for Anesthesia

Elderly patients generally should be started on low doses of pentazocine and observed closely.

Usual Geriatric Dose for Pain

Elderly patients generally should be started on low doses of pentazocine and observed closely.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Sedation

>= 1 year old:
Recommended dose: 0.5 mg/kg by intramuscular injection

Renal Dose Adjustments

Data not available

Liver Dose Adjustments

Data not available

Precautions

Elderly patients may be more sensitive to the analgesic effects of pentazocine than younger patients.

Because of possible severe tissue damage at injection sites, the subcutaneous route of administration should be used only when necessary.

Pentazocine should be administered with caution to patients with renal or hepatic impairment. Extensive liver disease has been reported to predispose patients to greater side effects from the usual clinical dose.

Dialysis

Data not available

Other Comments

When frequent injections are needed, the drug should be administered intramuscularly. Constant rotation of injection sites is essential.

See also...