BACKGROUND: Postoperative analgesia in children may be improved by using tramadol. The pharmacokinetics of rectal tramadol in young children were therefore investigated. METHODS: The pharmacokinetics of rectal tramadol and its active metabolite were studied in 12 young children (age: 1-6 yr) postoperatively. On the basis of these data, a population model was constructed. Using this model, the pharmacokinetics of different doses of tramadol were calculated. RESULTS: The pharmacokinetics of rectal tramadol could be adequately described by a one-compartment model. The pharmacokinetic parameters derived from the model indicate that a low variability was present. Elimination half-life was 4.3 (0.2) h (sem) and the apparent clearance was 16.4 (1.5) litre h(-1) (sem). CONCLUSIONS: The study showed that after rectal administration, tramadol is absorbed at a reasonable rate and with a low inter-individual variability in small children. The data also suggested that a rectal dose of tramadol 1.5-2.0 mg kg(-1) is therapeutic.
BACKGROUND: Postoperative analgesia in children may be improved by using tramadol. The pharmacokinetics of rectal tramadol in young children were therefore investigated. METHODS: The pharmacokinetics of rectal tramadol and its active metabolite were studied in 12 young children (age: 1-6 yr) postoperatively. On the basis of these data, a population model was constructed. Using this model, the pharmacokinetics of different doses of tramadol were calculated. RESULTS: The pharmacokinetics of rectal tramadol could be adequately described by a one-compartment model. The pharmacokinetic parameters derived from the model indicate that a low variability was present. Elimination half-life was 4.3 (0.2) h (sem) and the apparent clearance was 16.4 (1.5) litre h(-1) (sem). CONCLUSIONS: The study showed that after rectal administration, tramadol is absorbed at a reasonable rate and with a low inter-individual variability in small children. The data also suggested that a rectal dose of tramadol 1.5-2.0 mg kg(-1) is therapeutic.
Authors: Imke H Bartelink; Carin M A Rademaker; Alfred F A M Schobben; John N van den Anker Journal: Clin Pharmacokinet Date: 2006 Impact factor: 6.447
Authors: Kenneth F Ilett; Michael J Paech; Madhu Page-Sharp; Sherwin K Sy; Judith H Kristensen; Raymond Goy; Sebastian Chua; Tracey Christmas; Karen L Scott Journal: Br J Clin Pharmacol Date: 2008-02-20 Impact factor: 4.335