A review of drug prescribing in children with end-stage renal failure.

This review provides a guideline for the prescribing of drugs in children with end-stage renal failure. The altered physiology of renal failure affects the metabolism of most pharmacological agents and modification of the drug dosage or extension of the prescribed drug interval become necessary with declining glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Most dose adjustments are dependent on a knowledge of renal function since GFR is inversely proportioned to the elimination rate constant of a drug. The details of drugs listed by generic name are those commonly used in paediatric practice, and the recommendations for dose adjustments are related to a reduction in GFR and not to body mass. Familiarization with the normal dose prescription of any drug used in paediatric practice is therefore necessary when referring to the table.