Pediatric medication table

Pediatric paralysis

Rocuronium · Succinylcholine

Dose ranges

Rocuronium1–1.2 mg/kg IV

Succinylcholine — infant/small-child reference2 mg/kg IV

Succinylcholine — older-child/adolescent reference1 mg/kg IV

Totals use the formulas above. Verify local dose caps and formulations.

3–10 kg · 1 kg increments

3–10 kg · 1 kg increments total-mass reference
Measured weight	Rocuroniummg total	Succinylcholine — infant/small-child referencemg total	Succinylcholine — older-child/adolescent referencemg total
3 kg	3–3.6 mg	6 mg	3 mg
4 kg	4–4.8 mg	8 mg	4 mg
5 kg	5–6 mg	10 mg	5 mg
6 kg	6–7.2 mg	12 mg	6 mg
7 kg	7–8.4 mg	14 mg	7 mg
8 kg	8–9.6 mg	16 mg	8 mg
9 kg	9–10.8 mg	18 mg	9 mg
10 kg	10–12 mg	20 mg	10 mg

11–20 kg · 1 kg increments

11–20 kg · 1 kg increments total-mass reference
Measured weight	Rocuroniummg total	Succinylcholine — infant/small-child referencemg total	Succinylcholine — older-child/adolescent referencemg total
11 kg	11–13.2 mg	22 mg	11 mg
12 kg	12–14.4 mg	24 mg	12 mg
13 kg	13–15.6 mg	26 mg	13 mg
14 kg	14–16.8 mg	28 mg	14 mg
15 kg	15–18 mg	30 mg	15 mg
16 kg	16–19.2 mg	32 mg	16 mg
17 kg	17–20.4 mg	34 mg	17 mg
18 kg	18–21.6 mg	36 mg	18 mg
19 kg	19–22.8 mg	38 mg	19 mg
20 kg	20–24 mg	40 mg	20 mg

22–40 kg · 2 kg increments

22–40 kg · 2 kg increments total-mass reference
Measured weight	Rocuroniummg total	Succinylcholine — infant/small-child referencemg total	Succinylcholine — older-child/adolescent referencemg total
22 kg	22–26.4 mg	44 mg	22 mg
24 kg	24–28.8 mg	48 mg	24 mg
26 kg	26–31.2 mg	52 mg	26 mg
28 kg	28–33.6 mg	56 mg	28 mg
30 kg	30–36 mg	60 mg	30 mg
32 kg	32–38.4 mg	64 mg	32 mg
34 kg	34–40.8 mg	68 mg	34 mg
36 kg	36–43.2 mg	72 mg	36 mg
38 kg	38–45.6 mg	76 mg	38 mg
40 kg	40–48 mg	80 mg	40 mg

45–60 kg · 5 kg increments

45–60 kg · 5 kg increments total-mass reference
Measured weight	Rocuroniummg total	Succinylcholine — infant/small-child referencemg total	Succinylcholine — older-child/adolescent referencemg total
45 kg	45–54 mg	90 mg	45 mg
50 kg	50–60 mg	100 mg	50 mg
55 kg	55–66 mg	110 mg	55 mg
60 kg	60–72 mg	120 mg	60 mg

Cautions, guidance & disclaimers

Measured weight: Use the child’s current measured weight when available. For a weight between rows, calculate from the formula rather than rounding. Use neonatal references for newborn-resuscitation care.

Confirm local pediatric policy. Current U.S. labeling does not recommend rocuronium for pediatric RSI; succinylcholine has category-specific dosing and a boxed warning.

Major cautions

Rocuronium: Common off-label pediatric ED RSI range. Current U.S. labeling states that rocuronium is not recommended for rapid-sequence intubation in pediatric patients; ensure adequate anesthesia, sedation, ventilatory support, and follow local policy.
Succinylcholine: Review the boxed warning, contraindications, and patient-specific risk before use. The table presents both existing category references and does not decide which category applies.

Sources, limitations, and review record

Source links checked 10 September 2026. Medication content review date: 23 July 2026.

AHA/AAP: 2025 Pediatric Advanced Life Support guideline DailyMed: Ketamine label DailyMed: Etomidate label and pediatric age limitation DailyMed: Succinylcholine pediatric emergency-intubation dosing and boxed warning DailyMed: Rocuronium label and pediatric RSI limitation DailyMed: Fentanyl citrate label DailyMed: Midazolam label Children’s Mercy: free PedsGuide information Children’s Minnesota emergency medication manual status

Verify the route, dosing weight, dose range, maximum, contraindications, age restrictions, organ function, local formulary, and product in hand.

Verify the dose, route, concentration, maximum, and patient-specific considerations against current institutional protocols and product labeling.

About this resource

Website creator: Kyle Brown, MD Airway educational contributors: Andrew Pirotte, MD; Kyle Brown, MD; Reba Hodge, MD; Amanda Vanderwerf, PharmD, BCEMP; Morgan Kimball, PharmD, BCEMP; Joshua Mohess Clinical review: Emergency medicine faculty review completed. Medication content reviewed by Amanda Vanderwerf, PharmD, BCEMP, and Morgan Kimball, PharmD, BCEMP. Last reviewed: 2026-07-23 Next scheduled review: 2027-01-23 Designed for: EM residents, emergency physicians, EMS clinicians, airway educators, and simulation faculty Important: Educational resource and clinical-reference guide only; not a bedside order set or substitute for local protocol, medical direction, or clinical judgment. Website contact: [email protected]

Educational and clinical reference material. Verify against current institutional protocols, product labeling, and clinical judgment.

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