Atropine / Diphenoxylate Dosage

Usual Adult Dose for Diarrhea

Initial dose: 2 tablets (or 10 mL of liquid) orally 4 times a day.
Maintenance dose: 2 tablets (or 10 mL of liquid) once a day.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Diarrhea

Initial Dose:
>= 2 years, < 3 years: 1.5 to 3 mL orally 4 times a day
>= 3 years, < 4 years: 2 to 3 mL orally 4 times a day
>= 4 years, < 5 years: 2 to 4 mL orally 4 times a day
>= 5 years, <6 years: 2.5 to 4.5 mL orally 4 times a day
>= 6 years, < 9 years: 2.5 to 5 mL orally 4 times a day
>= 9 years, < 13 years: 3.5 to 5 mL orally 4 times a day
>= 13 years, < 18 years: 10 mL orally 3 times a day, or 2 tablets orally 3 times a day

Maintenance Dose:
as low as one-fourth of the initial daily dose.

The liquid formulation should be used for children under 13 years of age.

Renal Dose Adjustments

No adjustment recommended

Liver Dose Adjustments

Only for patients with mild liver disease.
Initial dose: 1 tablet (or 5 mL of liquid) orally 2 to 4 times a day.
Maintenance dose: 1 tablet (or 5 mL of liquid) once a day.

Dose Adjustments

Most patients will require the initial dosage until control has been achieved, after which the dosage requirement may be reduced.

Precautions

Use with extreme caution in young children. This age group has a greater variability of response and may be predisposed to delayed diphenoxylate toxicity.

Dialysis

No adjustment recommended

Other Comments

The maximum daily dose of diphenoxylate is 20 mg.
Clinical improvement of diarrhea is usually seen within 48 hours.

Patients with renal dysfunction should be monitored for signs of atropine toxicity.