Which dosing statement correctly reflects the adult and pediatric epinephrine doses?

• A. 0.03 to 0.05 mg for adults; 0.015 mg for children
• B. 0.003 to 0.005 mg for adults; 0.0015 mg for children
• C. 0.3 to 0.5 mL for adults; 0.15 mL for children
• D. 0.3 to 0.5 mg for adults; 0.15 mg for children

Answer: (D)

Epinephrine for anaphylaxis is given IM at a 1:1000 concentration, and doses are understood in milligrams per injection. The standard single adult dose is 0.3 mg, with the possibility of repeating up to 0.5 mg per dose if symptoms persist. For children, the typical per-dose amount is 0.15 mg. So the statement that reflects these amounts—0.3 to 0.5 mg for adults and 0.15 mg for children—fits expected practice. The other options either show far too small a amount in micrograms or express the dose as a volume rather than the mass, which can be misleading given the concentration.