Diazepam Pediatric Dose Calculator
Weight-based diazepam dosing for children, with maximum doses, age limits and sources. Enter age and weight for the dose in mg and injection volume or rectal dose.
Pediatric dosing
Convulsive seizure ≥5 minutes — IV Emergency
Convulsive seizure — rectal (no IV access) Emergency
Diazepam dose chart by age and weight
Convulsive seizure ≥5 minutes — IV. Weights are WHO/IAP reference medians for age — always dose on the measured weight.
| Age | Weight | Dose (mg) | Injection 5 mg/mL (IV; may be given rectally via syringe) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | 4.3 kg | 0.86 mg | 0.17 mL | Slow IV over 2–5 minutes; may repeat once after 5–10 minutes |
| 3 months | 6.1 kg | 1.22 mg | 0.24 mL | Slow IV over 2–5 minutes; may repeat once after 5–10 minutes |
| 6 months | 7.6 kg | 1.52 mg | 0.3 mL | Slow IV over 2–5 minutes; may repeat once after 5–10 minutes |
| 9 months | 8.6 kg | 1.72 mg | 0.34 mL | Slow IV over 2–5 minutes; may repeat once after 5–10 minutes |
| 1 year | 9.3 kg | 1.86 mg | 0.37 mL | Slow IV over 2–5 minutes; may repeat once after 5–10 minutes |
| 18 months | 10.6 kg | 2.12 mg | 0.42 mL | Slow IV over 2–5 minutes; may repeat once after 5–10 minutes |
| 2 years | 11.8 kg | 2.36 mg | 0.47 mL | Slow IV over 2–5 minutes; may repeat once after 5–10 minutes |
| 3 years | 14.1 kg | 2.82 mg | 0.56 mL | Slow IV over 2–5 minutes; may repeat once after 5–10 minutes |
| 4 years | 16.2 kg | 3.24 mg | 0.65 mL | Slow IV over 2–5 minutes; may repeat once after 5–10 minutes |
| 5 years | 17.5 kg | 3.5 mg | 0.7 mL | Slow IV over 2–5 minutes; may repeat once after 5–10 minutes |
| 6 years | 19 kg | 3.8 mg | 0.76 mL | Slow IV over 2–5 minutes; may repeat once after 5–10 minutes |
| 8 years | 24.4 kg | 4.88 mg | 0.98 mL | Slow IV over 2–5 minutes; may repeat once after 5–10 minutes |
| 10 years | 31.1 kg | 6.22 mg | 1.2 mL | Slow IV over 2–5 minutes; may repeat once after 5–10 minutes |
| 12 years | 39.4 kg | 7.88 mg | 1.6 mL | Slow IV over 2–5 minutes; may repeat once after 5–10 minutes |
Strengths in the calculator
- Injection 5 mg/mL (IV; may be given rectally via syringe) (Intravenous / Rectal)
- Rectal tube 5 mg (Rectal)
- Rectal tube 10 mg (Rectal)
Different strength on your bottle? Use “Different strength on the bottle?” under the result.
Safety
Contraindications and cautions
- Respiratory depression; myasthenia gravis; sleep apnoea.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Legacy FDA category D. Use for seizures when needed; avoid regular use (neonatal withdrawal, floppy infant).
Avoid repeated doses while breastfeeding.
Clinical notes
Have oxygen, suction and bag-valve-mask ready. Oral diazepam is not used for acute seizures.
Adult and adolescent (≥40 kg) dose
10 mg — Slow IV (may repeat once) or 10–20 mg rectally (max 10 mg per dose).
Other names and brands
- India: Calmpose, Valium
- UK: Stesolid
Brand examples only — products and strengths vary by country. Always check the label.
Frequently asked questions
What is the diazepam dose for children?
Convulsive seizure ≥5 minutes — IV: 0.15–0.3 mg/kg/dose · slow IV over 2–5 minutes; may repeat once after 5–10 minutes · max 10 mg/dose. Usual duration: Acute only. Always use the child's measured weight and check the strength on the bottle.
How many mL of injection 5 mg/mL (IV; may be given rectally via syringe) for an 11.8 kg child?
For convulsive seizure ≥5 minutes — IV, an 11.8 kg child (about 2 years) needs 2.36 mg per dose — 0.47 mL of Injection 5 mg/mL (IV; may be given rectally via syringe), slow IV over 2–5 minutes; may repeat once after 5–10 minutes. Recalculate with the child's actual weight.
From what age can diazepam be given?
Age range in PediaRx: 1 month – adult. The calculator does not calculate a dose below 1 month. Each indication can have its own age and weight limits, shown with its regimen.
Is diazepam safe in pregnancy?
Legacy FDA category D. Use for seizures when needed; avoid regular use (neonatal withdrawal, floppy infant).
Sources and editorial process
- Evidence-based guideline: treatment of convulsive status epilepticus in children and adults (Glauser et al., Epilepsy Curr 2016) — American Epilepsy Society
- Pocket Book of Hospital Care for Children, 2nd edition (2013) — World Health Organization
- BNF for Children — Diazepam — NICE / BMJ Group / Royal Pharmaceutical Society
Dosing data last updated 2026-09-27. PediaRx is built and maintained by Dr. Shounak Pal, MBBS (Medical Officer, Government of West Bengal, India — founder and developer of PediaRx). Every regimen is encoded with explicit units, maximum doses and age/weight limits and is checked by automated tests before publication. Report an error: hello@pediarx.com.
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Clinical disclaimer: reference tool for qualified health professionals. Verify every dose against current guidance and the product label before prescribing.
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