Paediatric workshop

Question 1

What are the advantages of oral liquid medications for children (3)

Answer 1

1. Suitable for tablet swallowing difficulties
2. better taste (e.g. strawberry flavours)
3. Flexibility of giving doses as the child ages (i.e. increase the amount given as the child grows older/gains weight)

Question 2

What are the disadvantages of oral liquid medications for children (4)

Answer 2

1. Shorter shelf life
2. harder to give than tablets (have to measure)
3. Storage
4. Accessibility for parents with dexterity issues/arthritis with child-lock bottles

Question 3

What can be done to give doses like 0.62 mL using oral syringes (3)

Answer 3

1. Round dose
2. most drugs allow dose rounding within a 10% margin
3. cytotoxic/drugs going to the brain have a rounding margin of 5%

Question 4

What is the issue of crushing orodispersible tablets (2)

Answer 4

1. pellets get stuck in the syringe
2. crushing tablet means the coating is broken, so the active ingredient can break down in the stomach