Clinical pharmacology and therapeutic drug monitoring in neonates and children.

From a pharmacotherapy perspective, the process of development and growth represents an unstable and dynamic condition. Age-related changes in drug absorption, distribution, and metabolism among neonates, infants, and prepubescent children create a unique situation that may increase drug toxicity of some agents and protect from toxicity of other agents. Understanding the age-related changes in drug disposition that are relevant for therapeutic response and toxicity is essential for optimizing pharmacotherapy at different stages of childhood.