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. 2018 Mar 15;11:549–559. doi: 10.2147/JPR.S153903

Table 2.

Dosage and administration routes of buprenorphine in the pediatric population

Dosage form Route Indications Recommended dose Age (years)
Injectable solution (0.3 mg buprenorphine hydrochloride) IV Premedication
Postoperative analgesia
1.5–3 μg/kg 3–1777
0.5–615
Chronic pain in palliative care
Chronic pain
1–6 μg/kg >0.518
PCA Chronic pain in palliative care
Postoperative analgesia
3 μg/kg (max 150 mg) 6 h >0.518
CI Maintenance of mechanical ventilation 0.72–2.16 μg/kg/h 27–32 WGA55
Chronic pain in palliative care 0.5 μg/kg/h (max 30 mg/h) >0.518
SC Pain in palliative care 0.5 μg/kg/h (max 30 mg/h) >0.518
Epidural Postoperative analgesia 2.5–4 μg/kg 11.0178
0.5–1279
11–1380
Sublingual tablets (0.2 mg buprenorphine hydrochloride) SL Premedication
Chronic pain
Postoperative analgesia
3 μg/kg 4.8–1581
Chronic pain in palliative care 4–200 μg/kg/8 h >0.518
TDS (patch containing 5, 10, 20, 30, or 40 mg buprenorphine) TDS Chronic pain in palliative care Start: 17.5 μg/h
End: 35 μg/h
3–574
Start: 8.75 μg/h
End: 35 μg/h
2–1749
5–15 μg/h 3–1082

Abbreviations: IV, intravenous; PCA, patient-controlled administration; CI, continuous infusion; SC, subcutaneous; SL, sublingual; TDS, transdermal delivery system; WGA, week gestational age; max, single maximal dose at the start of continuous infusion.