Dosing considerations in the pediatric patient.

Pediatric patients experience unique differences from the adult population in pharmacokinetic parameters and, consequently, require individualized dosing. Medications useful in pediatric medicine often lack a therapeutic indication and dosing guideline for this population. In addition, the absence of an available pediatric dosage form for some medications increases the potential for dosing errors and may produce serious--sometimes fatal--complications in young patients. It is important to select an appropriate medication and dose based on individualized pharmacokinetic considerations: one must evaluate a patient's age, size, and level of organ maturity, and not simply administer a "small adult" dose. Thus specific dosing guidelines and useful dosage forms for pediatric patients need to be developed in order to optimize therapeutic efficacy and limit, or prevent, serious adverse side effects.