Considerations for Drug Dosing in Premature Infants

Abstract

In premature infants, effective and safe drug therapy depends on optimal dose selection and requires a thorough understanding of the underlying disease(s) of these fragile infants as well as the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the drugs selected to treat their diseases. Differences in gestational and postnatal age or weight are the major determinants of the observed variability in drug disposition and effect in these infants. This article presents an outline on how to translate the results of a population pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic study into rational dosing regimens, and how physiologically based pharmacokinetic modeling, electronic health records, and the abundantly available data of vital functions of premature infants during their stay in the neonatal intensive care unit for evaluation of their pharmacotherapy can be used to tailor the most safe and effective dose in these infants.