ABSTRACT
Effective and safe drug administration in neonates should be based on current knowledge of the physiological characteristics of the infant and the pharmacokinetics of a given drug. Absorption is the movement of the drug from its administration site to the bloodstream, and the route of administration determines how available the drug is to the circulation. Administration of a large first dose results in steady state being rapidly reached, where the amount of the drug administered in each new dose equals the amount eliminated since the dose. The binding of drugs to proteins within the vascular department also determines how the drug is distributed throughout the body. The blood–brain barrier mediates the transport of nutrients into, and toxic metabolites out of, the central nervous system. Pharmacists’ activities included reviewing prescription charts, providing advice on medication on ward rounds and implementing educational activities for staff.
