MERCAPTAMINE BITARTRATE IS GIVEN IN AN INITIAL DOSE THAT IS ONE-SIXTH TO ONE-QUARTER OF THE EXPECTED MAINTENANCE DOSE, AND IS THEN INCREASED GRADUALLY OVER 4 TO 6 WEEKS. THE USUAL MAINTENANCE DOSE IN ADULTS IS 2 G DAILY IN 4 DIVIDED DOSES WITH OR AFTER FOOD.
CHILDREN UP TO 12 YEARS OF AGE: 1.3 G/M2 (APPROXIMATELY 50 MG/KG) DAILY IN 4 DIVIDED DOSES.
DOSES ARE GIVEN IN CONJUNCTION WITH MONITORING OF LEUCOCYTE-CYSTINE LEVELS WHICH SHOULD BE KEPT BELOW 1 NANOMOL OF HEMICYSTINE PER MG OF PROTEIN.