Pediatric clinical pharmacology. A practical review.

Significant differences exist between children and adults in their handling of a large number of therapeutic agents. The relative immaturity of the pediatric patient and the continuous state of development of body and organ functions influence both drug effects and drug disposition. Daily dosage requirements vary with age. For many drugs, children require and tolerate much more of a drug, relative to their size, for the same effect. Newborns may need more or less of a drug for a comparable effect. A conceptual framework is provided to aid in understanding the individuality of the pediatric patient's drug disposition processes based on differences in physiologic functions affecting drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion. Additional data are needed on drug disposition in children of all ages to maximize therapeutic drug usage with avoidance of toxicity.