TY - CHAP M1 - Book, Section TI - Pediatrics: General Topics in Pediatric Pharmacotherapy A1 - Nahata, Milap C. A1 - Taketomo, Carol A2 - DiPiro, Joseph T. A2 - Yee, Gary C. A2 - Posey, L. Michael A2 - Haines, Stuart T. A2 - Nolin, Thomas D. A2 - Ellingrod, Vicki PY - 2020 T2 - Pharmacotherapy: A Pathophysiologic Approach, 11e AB - KEY CONCEPTS Children are not just “little adults,” and lack of data on important pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic differences has led to several disastrous situations in pediatric care. Variations in absorption of medications from the gastrointestinal tract, intramuscular injection sites, and skin are important in pediatric patients, especially in premature and other newborn infants. The rate and extent of organ function development and the distribution, metabolism, and elimination of drugs differ not only between pediatric versus adult patients but also among pediatric age groups. The effectiveness and safety of drugs may vary among age groups and from one drug to another in pediatric versus adult patients. Concomitant diseases may influence dosage requirements to achieve a targeted effect for a specific disease in children. Use of weight-based dosing of medications for obese children may result in suboptimal drug therapy. The myth that neonates and young infants do not experience pain has led to inadequate pain management in this pediatric population. Special methods of drug administration are needed for infants and young children. Many medicines needed for pediatric patients are not available in appropriate dosage forms; thus, the dosage forms of drugs marketed for adults may require modification for use in infants and children, necessitating assurance of potency and safety of drug use. The pediatric medication-use process is complex and error prone because of the multiple steps required in calculating, verifying, preparing, and administering doses. SN - PB - McGraw-Hill Education CY - New York, NY Y2 - 2024/03/29 UR - accesspharmacy.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1182426938 ER -