{"title":"Optimizing Pediatric Drug Therapy: Pediatric Pharmacokinetics and Administration Routes.","authors":"Nokwanda Nhlanzeko Ngcobo","doi":"10.5863/JPPT-24-00144","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Optimizing pediatric drug therapy requires a comprehensive understanding of the unique pharmacokinetic characteristics in pediatrics, alongside appropriate drug administration routes. This review explores the impact of age-related pharmacokinetic variations, including enzymatic maturation and organ function, on drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion. The challenges and advantages of various drug administration routes, evaluating their effect on drug efficacy and safety in pediatric populations are also addressed. A multidisciplinary framework is proposed, integrating pharmacokinetic principles with customized drug administration routes and adherence strategies, such as simplified dosing and digital health interventions. Our findings highlight the necessity of a personalized approach to pediatric drug therapy that combines pharmacokinetic insights with practical administration considerations.</p>","PeriodicalId":37484,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Pediatric Pharmacology and Therapeutics","volume":"31 2","pages":"196-205"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0000,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13075399/pdf/","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Pediatric Pharmacology and Therapeutics","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.5863/JPPT-24-00144","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2026/4/13 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"Medicine","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Optimizing pediatric drug therapy requires a comprehensive understanding of the unique pharmacokinetic characteristics in pediatrics, alongside appropriate drug administration routes. This review explores the impact of age-related pharmacokinetic variations, including enzymatic maturation and organ function, on drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion. The challenges and advantages of various drug administration routes, evaluating their effect on drug efficacy and safety in pediatric populations are also addressed. A multidisciplinary framework is proposed, integrating pharmacokinetic principles with customized drug administration routes and adherence strategies, such as simplified dosing and digital health interventions. Our findings highlight the necessity of a personalized approach to pediatric drug therapy that combines pharmacokinetic insights with practical administration considerations.
期刊介绍:
The Journal of Pediatric Pharmacology and Therapeutics is the official journal of the Pediatric Pharmacy Advocacy Group. JPPT is a peer-reviewed multi disciplinary journal that is devoted to promoting the safe and effective use of medications in infants and children. To this end, the journal publishes practical information for all practitioners who provide care to pediatric patients. Each issue includes review articles, original clinical investigations, case reports, editorials, and other information relevant to pediatric medication therapy. The Journal focuses all work on issues related to the practice of pediatric pharmacology and therapeutics. The scope of content includes pharmacotherapy, extemporaneous compounding, dosing, methods of medication administration, medication error prevention, and legislative issues. The Journal will contain original research, review articles, short subjects, case reports, clinical investigations, editorials, and news from such organizations as the Pediatric Pharmacy Advocacy Group, the FDA, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, and so on.