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Related Concept Videos

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion01:26

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion

In pediatric medicine, understanding the renal function and drug elimination nuances is crucial for administering safe and effective treatments. Newborns, in particular, display markedly slower renal functions than adults, profoundly affecting how drugs are cleared from their bodies. This slower drug clearance requires clinicians to extend the dosing intervals for many medications to prevent drug accumulation and toxicity while ensuring therapeutic efficacy.One key area where these adjustments...
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Pediatric patient dosages diverge from adults due to disparities in body surface area, total body water, and extracellular fluid per kilogram of body weight. The dosing regimen considers the variations in pharmacokinetics and pharmacology across distinct age groups, encompassing preterm newborns, infants, young children, older children, and adolescents. Calculation of pediatric patient doses is predicated on determining body surface area, which exhibits a superior correlation with the child's...
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In pediatric care, understanding the nuances of hepatic drug metabolism is crucial, as it significantly differs from that of adults. This divergence is primarily due to the developmental stage of drug-metabolizing enzymes, which affects how medications are processed in the body. In neonates, for instance, the activity of Phase I enzymes—critical for the initial breakdown of drugs—is markedly reduced, functioning at just 20–40% of the levels seen in adults. This reduction poses a challenge in...
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Understanding the physiological differences in the pediatric population is crucial for effective pharmacotherapy. Neonates, infants, and children exhibit significant variations in gastric pH, gastric emptying time, intestinal transit time, and biliary function. These variations profoundly affect oral drug absorption, necessitating a nuanced approach to pediatric dosing.Neonates present with a unique physiological profile, having a gastric pH greater than 4 and faster and more irregular gastric...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 24, 2026

Pediatric Animal Model of Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation After Prolonged Circulatory Arrest
04:55

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Published on: May 26, 2023

Pediatric ziprasidone overdose.

Charles J Fasano1, Gerald F O'Malley, Claudia Lares

  • 1Department of Emergency Medicine, Albert Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA 19141, USA. pasanoc@einstein.edu

Pediatric Emergency Care
|April 17, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

A pediatric ziprasidone overdose case highlights that even one pill can cause severe respiratory depression and altered mental status in children. Pinpoint pupils unresponsive to naloxone were noted, a rare symptom in ziprasidone toxicity.

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Last Updated: Jun 24, 2026

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Published on: July 8, 2025

Area of Science:

  • Pharmacology
  • Pediatric Toxicology

Background:

  • Ziprasidone is an atypical antipsychotic approved for schizophrenia in adults.
  • Pediatric ziprasidone overdose literature previously described sedation, tachycardia, hypotonia, and coma.

Observation:

  • A 30-month-old child experienced lethargy and unresponsiveness after ingesting at least one ziprasidone tablet.
  • The patient developed pinpoint pupils unresponsive to naloxone, along with profound mental status and respiratory depression.
  • Treatment included naloxone, intubation, and activated charcoal for gastrointestinal decontamination.

Findings:

  • This case presents the first quantitative serum levels of ziprasidone in a pediatric overdose.
  • The observed symptoms, including coma and respiratory depression, align with known pediatric ziprasidone overdose profiles.
  • The development of pinpoint pupils unresponsive to naloxone is a notable finding, potentially linked to alpha-1 receptor blockade.

Implications:

  • This case underscores the potential for severe toxicity in pediatric ziprasidone ingestion, even with small amounts.
  • The unresponsive miosis suggests a specific mechanism related to atypical antipsychotic overdose.
  • Further research into the mechanisms of atypical antipsychotic-induced miosis is warranted.