Diazepam dose/route

• A. 5-10 mg intravenous only
• B. 5-10 mg slow IVP/IM; May repeat up to 30 mg; Peds: 0.05-0.1 mg/kg IV or 0.1-0.2 mg/kg IM; Rectal for peds
• C. 20-40 mg bolus only
• D. 1-2 mg/kg IV

Answer: (B)

Dosing and route selection for diazepam in acute care hinges on how quickly you need control, whether IV access is available, and the patient’s age. The best approach is flexible and safety‑focused: start with a modest dose by IV or IM, repeat if needed, and keep a clear maximum for adults; for children, use weight-based dosing and include a rectal option when IV access is not feasible.

A typical plan uses 5–10 mg given slowly by IV push or IM, with the possibility to repeat up to a total of 30 mg if seizures persist. For kids, dosing is weight-based: about 0.05–0.1 mg/kg IV or 0.1–0.2 mg/kg IM, and rectal administration is an established option in pediatric care. This combination covers multiple routes (IV, IM, rectal) and both adult and pediatric needs, while limiting the total dose to avoid excessive sedation or respiratory depression.

Other patterns are less aligned with practice: restricting to IV only omits usable routes, suggesting a high single bolus is inappropriate, and using a weight-based IV dose of 1–2 mg/kg exceeds typical safety ranges for an acute setting.