Tamiflu Pediatric Dosing Chart by Weight
For children 1 year and older, the oseltamivir dose is set by weight: 30 mg for 15 kg or less, 45 mg for over 15 to 23 kg, 60 mg for over 23 to 40 kg and 75 mg over 40 kg, twice daily for treatment or once daily for prevention. The chart below gives the mL of 6 mg/mL liquid and the infant checks.
Separate indication, age, and schedule first
Quick answer
- For children 1 year and older, common oseltamivir bands are 30 mg, 45 mg, 60 mg, or 75 mg per dose based on weight.
- Treatment is usually twice daily for 5 days when influenza treatment is recommended.
- Post-exposure prophylaxis uses the same weight-band mg amount, but usually once daily and for a different duration.
- The common Tamiflu or oseltamivir suspension is 6 mg/mL, so mL per dose = mg dose / 6.
- Term infants under 1 year are dosed by weight in mg/kg (CDC: 3 mg/kg per dose twice daily for treatment), not from the band table.
- Premature infants, renal adjustment, severe illness, and outbreak prophylaxis need clinician or pathway-specific dosing.
Oseltamivir weight bands for age 1 year and older
These common bands show the mg amount per dose. Use the schedule table below to decide whether that dose is given twice daily for treatment or once daily for prevention.
| Weight band | mg per dose | 6 mg/mL liquid | Capsule handoff |
|---|---|---|---|
| <=15 kg | 30 mg | 5 mL | 30 mg capsule if prescribed and swallowed safely |
| >15-23 kg | 45 mg | 7.5 mL | 45 mg capsule |
| >23-40 kg | 60 mg | 10 mL | Usually two 30 mg capsules if capsules are used |
| >40 kg | 75 mg | 12.5 mL | 75 mg capsule |
Treatment versus prophylaxis schedule
The same weight-band mg amount can be used in different ways. Confirm whether the plan is treating influenza or preventing influenza after a selected exposure before measuring the dose.
| Scenario | Typical frequency | Typical duration | Check first |
|---|---|---|---|
| Influenza treatment | Twice daily | 5 days | Best started as early as possible, especially within the first 48 hours when appropriate. |
| Post-exposure prophylaxis | Once daily | 7 days after the last known exposure (CDC); the FDA label says 10 days after close contact for ages 1 to 12 and at least 10 days from age 13. Confirm which one your clinician uses. | Not for every exposure. Risk factors, timing, and local guidance matter. |
Age and edge-case checks
| Age group | Treatment check | Prevention check | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premature infant | Do not use the term-infant 3 mg/kg or band dosing; CDC doses by postmenstrual age | Specialist/pathway dosing only | CDC doses premature infants by postmenstrual age because clearance is lower. |
| Term infant under 3 months | 3 mg/kg per dose twice daily for 5 days (CDC) | Not recommended unless the situation is judged critical (CDC) | The FDA label covers treatment from 2 weeks of age; CDC and AAP also recommend it for younger infants. |
| 3 months to under 1 year | 3 mg/kg per dose twice daily for 5 days (CDC, FDA label) | 3 mg/kg per dose once daily (CDC; off-label, as the FDA label covers prevention from 1 year) | AAP suggests 3.5 mg/kg twice daily at 9 to 11 months; CDC says a benefit of the higher dose is unknown. |
| 1 year and older | Use weight-band mg dose twice daily when treatment is indicated | Use weight-band mg dose once daily when prevention is indicated | Then convert to 6 mg/mL liquid or capsule strength. |
6 mg/mL formula and form matching
The common suspension is 6 mg/mL. Once the mg dose and schedule are confirmed, liquid conversion is simple: divide the mg dose by 6.
mL per dose = mg per dose / 6
Example: 45 mg / 6 mg/mL = 7.5 mL per dose.
- Confirm treatment versus prevention: The mg amount may be the same by weight band, but frequency and duration differ.
- Check age and edge cases: Infant dosing, premature infants, renal impairment, severe illness, and outbreak settings need pathway-specific instructions.
- Choose the weight band: For children 1 year and older, select the 30 mg, 45 mg, 60 mg, or 75 mg dose band by weight.
- Convert liquid if needed: For 6 mg/mL suspension, divide the mg dose by 6 to get mL per dose.
- Write the schedule: Confirm twice-daily treatment versus once-daily prophylaxis, then write the stop date and missed-dose plan.
| Form | Best fit | Check |
|---|---|---|
| 6 mg/mL suspension | Younger children, anyone who cannot swallow capsules, or doses that need mL measurement. | Shake well, use an oral syringe, and verify the bottle concentration before measuring. |
| 30 mg capsule | The <=15 kg band when a capsule is prescribed, or part of a 60 mg dose. | Capsule contents may be mixed only when the product plan supports it. |
| 45 mg capsule | The >15-23 kg band when capsules are appropriate. | Do not substitute a 75 mg capsule for a lower band. |
| 75 mg capsule | The >40 kg band or adult-size pediatric/adolescent plan. | Confirm treatment versus prophylaxis frequency before giving repeat doses. |
Safety checks before dosing
- Oseltamivir targets influenza. Do not use it as a general cold, stomach bug, or fever medicine.
- Benefit is time-sensitive. Treatment decisions should consider symptom timing, severity, age, and risk factors.
- Give with food if nausea or vomiting is a problem, but reassess if the child cannot keep doses or fluids down.
- Check renal disease or reduced kidney function before using routine schedules.
- Watch for severe allergic reaction, severe rash, confusion, hallucinations, abnormal behavior, seizure, breathing trouble, dehydration, or worsening illness.
- Separate oseltamivir decisions from live attenuated influenza vaccine timing when that matters for the child.
Frequently asked questions
For children 1 year and older, common bands are 30 mg for 15 kg or less, 45 mg for over 15-23 kg, 60 mg for over 23-40 kg, and 75 mg for over 40 kg. Confirm the indication and local pathway.
For 6 mg/mL suspension, 30 mg is 5 mL, 45 mg is 7.5 mL, 60 mg is 10 mL, and 75 mg is 12.5 mL.
The weight-band mg amount is often the same, but the schedule is not. Treatment is usually twice daily for 5 days, while prophylaxis is usually once daily for a different duration.
Term infants under 1 year get 3 mg/kg per dose twice daily for treatment (CDC), not the band table. For prevention, CDC uses 3 mg/kg once daily from 3 months and does not recommend it under 3 months unless the situation is critical. Premature infants need special dosing because medication clearance differs.
The biggest benefit is when treatment starts early, but clinicians may still treat selected high-risk, hospitalized, or severe cases later. Follow the clinician plan.