paediatric pharmacy

Question 1

how is oral absopriton difffenrt in neonates and babies

Answer 1

gastric secrtions , bile acid secretion and intestinal motility are all reduced in neonates and babies

therefore bioavivailbitiy of certain drugs (specially acidic drugs like penicillin)

Question 2

how is distrubtion of drugs different in neonates and young children

Answer 2

hgiher percentage of body weight is water

and
reduced plasma protein binding due to low albumin

therefore they require higherdose of water-soluble drugs

*spcific care must be taken w highly protein binding drugs eg phenytoin

Question 3

how does the metabolism of babies affect drug use

Answer 3

immature enzyme systems in the liver

conjugation reactions, particularly oxidation and glucuronidation are not developed until 1yo

therefore many drugs cant be used in neonates and infants until 1yuo

Question 4

how does the metabolism of children age 1-12 affect drug use

Answer 4

generally faster metabolism than normal adults until age 2 then slowly declines until puberty

this may mean increiaing dosage or dosing frequency eliminated by hepatic metabolism

Question 5

how is excretion of drugs different in children and babies

Answer 5

much slower excretion
-most imporatn factor affecting dosing

-causes increased half lives of many renal excreted drugs (eg gentamicin)

-adjust dose in same way as adults, by decreasing the dose or increasing the dosage interval

Question 6

rough estimate of weight calculation

Answer 6

weight (kg)= (age+4) x2