Question

Discuss the different dosing considerations for pediatric patients compared to those for adults.

Answer 1

Pediatric Patients:

Proper drug dosing depends on:

• Age and weight: Young's rule, Clark's rule, Fried's rule
• Overall health status
• Condition of such biologic functions such as respiration and circulation
• Stage of development of body systems for drug metabolism and drug elimination

In neonate, these biologic functions and systems are underdeveloped:

• Renal function develops over the span of the first 2 yrs of life
• So if the drug elimination rate is not properly considered then drug accumulation would occur leading to drug overdose and toxicity.

Dosing consideration for adult patients:

• For the adults with normal health condition dosage is same but if they have health conditions like hepatic, renal, cardiac, cancer, etc. then special considerations of dosing is necessary.
• Example: in chemotherapy, dosing is difficult as low dose will be ineffective whereas excessive causes toxicity.

Thus consideration of pediatric dosing is different from that of adults & it is necessary to avoid adverse drug events.