Peds 1 Flashcards
What affects kid’s drug absorption?
affected by blood flow at the site of administration, GI function, and a thinner stratum corneum than adults
Why is a child’s GI functioning variable?
Gastric pH does not reach adult levels until a child is 18-36 months old
Gastric emptying time of a child is longer than that of an adult - until 9 months old
Why must topical creams be used with caution in kids?
thinner stratum corneum than adults, as well as a larger body surface area meaning that they absorb medication more readily
Hardest time to predict a drug’s pharmacokinetics during a pt’s lifetime?
puberty
How does drug metabolism change in kids?
- drug metabolism increases until it reaches normal adult levels between 1-2 years
- continues to rise beyond adult levels until puberty is reached
- metabolic clearance of drugs by cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYP450) begins to decline to adult levels after puberty
What can affect CYP450 metabolism? (foods and lifestyle choices)
Grapefruit juice, charbroiled foods, vegetables, and cigarette smoking (2nd hand)
When does GFR reach adult volume?
1 yr old
What should be kept in mind when adjusting med doses in newborns?
dosage adjustments of drugs (strength and intervals) that depend on renal excretion (aminoglycosides, ampicillin) must be carefully made because these drugs are more slowly cleared in infants than they are in an older person
How are ped meds typically dosed?
milligram per kilogram basis
When using a liquid medication, what should a parent make sure to do?
caretakers should always use the measuring device (dropper, dosing cup, dosing spoon) that is packaged with each formulation
In situations where the calculated dose of a peds medication exceeds the recommended dose, what should be done?
the clinician should prescribe the recommended adult dose
15-month-old male, weight of 13.4 kg, using amoxicillin
Amoxicillin is usually dosed at 80-90 mg/kg/day divided into 2 doses to be administered 2x/day for otitis media (OM)
You decide to dose at 90 mg/kg/day divided to dose 2x/day
You select amoxicillin suspension at a dose form of 400 mg/5 mL -> 80 mg/ mL
What should the dosing be?
90 x 13.4 = 1206
Total dose required: 1,206 mg
Performing some quick math, you see that 1,206 mg/(400 mg/5 mL) = 15.075 mL
Round this number down to 15 mL for ease of delivery
Finally, divide this amount (15 mL) into a twice-daily schedule, and you arrive at 7.5 mL (1.5 teaspoons) of amoxicillin, 400 mg/5 mL strength, 2x/day
Why is poor adherence an issue?
- Usually due to the caretakers’ failure to understand some important aspect of the drug regimen
- Caretakers may experience difficulty actually administering a medication to a child due to the amount, taste, or texture
What can be done to assist a parent in administering a medication to their child?
Prescribing alternative modes - crushable tablet
What can aid parents in improving adherence?
Motivational and reminder aids for caretakers can help improve adherence
What are some common meds that are contraindicated in kids but okay in adults?
aspirin, OTC cold medications, fluoroquinolones, tetracyclines, metoclopramide, and antimigraine serotonin 5-HT receptor agonists
Aspirin use in kids causes?
Reye’s syndrome and GI side effects
Over-the-counter cough/cold preparations cause what in kids?
generally discouraged because they are not efficient and have the potential for adverse reactions
Fluoroquinolones are not used in kids under 18 because of?
adverse effects on the growth of immature cartilage, joints, and surrounding tissues
Tetracyclines are not used in kids under 8 because?
dental discoloration, enamel hypoplasia, and skeletal development problems
Metoclopramide is not used in kids because?
can cause extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) and tardive dyskinesia, which are often irreversible
Antimigraine serotonin 5-HT receptor agonists (sumatriptan, rizatriptan, and zolmitriptan) can cause what in kids?
MI, stroke, death, and vision loss
Who should prescribe Antimigraine serotonin 5-HT receptor agonists (sumatriptan, rizatriptan, and zolmitriptan) to kids?
Peds neurologists
Promethazine (Phenergan) black box warning
In children < 2 years old: potential for severe or fatal respiratory depression, even with recommended doses
In children > 2 years old: use caution; lowest effective dose should be given.
Tacrolimus black box warning
may increase susceptibility to infection and development of lymphoma owing to immunosuppression - not recommended under 2 yrs old
Salmeterol black box warning
increased risk of asthma-related deaths
When should salmeterol be used in in kids?
Should only be used when other asthma drugs, such as low- to medium-dose inhaled corticosteroids, do not work
Lisinopril and other ACE inhibitors black box warning
can cause injury to and death of a developing fetus