Prescription Cautions
Children At Higher Risk For Drug
Errors
A whopping one out of every 17 times a medication is ordered to be given to
a hospitalized child the child receives the wrong drug or dose according to
a new study in JAMA. Potentially harmful medication errors occur 3 times more
often among hospitalized children than adults. In the 6-week study at Children's
Hospital Boston and Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, researchers
found 616 medication errors out of 10,778 orders written -- an error rate of
5.7 percent. The overall error rate was similar to those found in previous
studies of adult hospitals, but the number of potentially harmful errors was
3 times greater among children. The rate of potential adverse drug events was
significantly higher in neonates in the neonatal intensive care unit. Most
potential adverse drug events occurred at the stage of drug ordering (79%)
and involved incorrect dosing (34%), anti-infective drugs (28%), and intravenous
medications (54%). "Medication errors are common in pediatric inpatient settings,
and further efforts are
Kausha R, Bates DW, Landrigan C, McKenna KJ, Clapp MD, Federico F, Goldmann
DA Medication
errors and adverse drug events in pediatric inpatients JAMA
2001 (Apr 25); 285 (16): 2114-2120
Prozac On The Increase For Children
The New York Times reported that Eli Lilly, the producer of Prozac, is submitting
data to get the drug formally approved for use as a pediatric medicine. Although
it has not been approved in the past, Prozac prescriptions for teenagers increased
46% last year as compared to the previous year. The use of Prozac by
adults has been falling in the past two years. "The companies are looking
for expanded markets," said Barbara Ryan, managing director of a pharmaceutical
analysis company.
Antibiotics Don't Help Sinusitis
Antibiotics do not help most children with acute sinusitis, according to a
study in Pediatrics. Investigators studied 180 youngsters, aged 1 to 18 years,
with acute sinusitis. The children were divided into three treatment groups:
1) amoxicillin, 2) amoxicillin-clavulanate,
or 3) placebo.
Treatment lasted 14 days. Seventy-nine percent of the youngsters on amoxicillin
improved after 14 days, as did 79% of those taking placebo pills and 81% of
those on amoxicillin-clavulanate "Most children with prolonged cold-like symptoms
suggestive of acute sinus disease get better within three weeks, without antibiotic
therapy," explains chief investigator, Jane Garbutt, MB, ChB. "Our study suggests
that, for children with uncomplicated acute sinusitis, it makes sense to delay
antibiotic treatment and watch carefully." "Antibiotics are expensive and can
cause side effects, most commonly diarrhea," Garbutt says. "Another concern
is that they are an important factor in the emergence and spread of antibiotic-resistant
bacteria."
Garbutt JM, GoldsteinM, Gellman E, Shannon W, Littenberg B A
randomized, placebo-controlled trial of antimicrobial treatment for children
with clinically diagnosed acute sinusitis Pediatrics 2001
(Apr); 107 (4): 619-625
Inhaled Corticosteroids Increases Risk of Cataracts
The July issue of the New England Journal of Medicine reports that the use
of inhaled corticosteroids for the treatment of asthma is associated with the
development of posterior subcapsular cataracts. In addition, there is
a significantly greater risk with long term use of these drugs
According to a study reported in the March 1997 issue of the Journal of Pediatrics,
a common antihistamine decongestant combination (ADC) was no more effective
than a placebo in providing temporary relief of symptoms of the common cold
in preschool children.
Children, ranging in ages from 6 months through 5 years were randomly assigned
to receive an ADC (Dimetapp) or a look alike placebo for the common cold symptoms
they were experiencing. Neither the parents nor the doctors involved in the
study knew which of the children received the active preparation. Two hours
after each dose, changes in the child's runny nose, nasal congestion, cough
and sleep status were recorded. The results from the study indicated that there
were no statistically significant differences in symptom improvement between
the ADC and the placebo group. However, the ADC did have significantly greater
sedative effects than did the placebo.
The side effects of these medications can cause headaches, appetite loss and
excitability in addition to the sedative effects from the medication. The potential
harm far outweighs any perceived benefits for the child.
Clemens CJ; Taylor JA; Almquist Jr; Quinn HC; Mehta A; Naylor GS Is
an antihistamine-decongestant combination effective in temporarily relieving
symptoms of the common cold in preschool children? J Pediat
1997 (Mar); 130 (3): 463-466
Prepulsid
Causes Death in 15 year Old Girl
Read this moving article from the parents of a 15 year old and their research
into the safety of prescriptions in children.