Frequency of drug consumption and lack of pediatric formulations.

Background: The lack of pediatric drug formulations is a problem that has limited the prescription in that population in the long term, resulting errors in drug administration by patients. Objetive: To determine the frequency of drug consumption at a National Pediatrics Institute in a six year-period, and identify those medications for which there is no available pediatric formulation. Methods: The frequency of consumption of medications was investigated, using the data base at the Pharmacy of the National Pediatrics Institute during the period from January 2001 to June 2006. Drugs were grouped according to their frequency, identifying those not available for pediatric use which are nevertheless prescribed. Results:. About 85 different drugs were used to attend hospital demands, which were prescribed on 7514 occasions within the period of study. The most frequently used drugs were: ranitidine (4.7%), paracetamol (3.8%) and midazolam (3.7%). Our results showed that midazolam, furosemide, phenobarbital, omeprazole, prednisone and captopril were the most prescribed drugs for which there are no pediatric formulations commercially available. Conclusion: This article reports the frequency of drug consumption at a pediatric hospital and discusses it in view of the lack of adequate formulations for pediatric patients in our country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]