title: Doxapram dosage regimen in apnea of prematurity based on pharmacokinetic data.
abstract: To 18 premature apneic patients refractory to theophylline, doxapram (0.5-2.5 mg/kg/h) was administered in combination with therapeutic doses of theophylline. Doxapram concentrations in serum were measured 48 h after commencement of the infusion and then in 2-hour intervals during a 6-8 h withdrawal. Total body clearance (dose/Css) of the drug ranged from 0.20 to 0.56 liter/h in 13 patients and 1.14 to 1.75 liter/h in 4 patients suggesting a binomial distribution in the disposition kinetics of the drug. Other pharmacokinetic indices, although variable, did not exhibit binomial distribution. The mean volume of distribution and half-life of doxapram were 7.33 +/- 4.55 liter/kg and 8.17 +/- 4.13 h, respectively. Based on our calculations to accelerate the attainment of a steady-state plasma concentration (Css) of approximately 1.5 mg/l, a loading dose of 5.5 mg/kg and a maintenance dose of 1 mg/kg/h along with serum concentration monitoring are recommended.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Division of Newborn Medicine, Royal Alexandra Hospital, Edmonton, Alta., Canada.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jamali
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Barrington
authors.forename: N N
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Finer
authors.forename: R T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Coutts
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Torok-Both
mesh_terms: D001049:Apnea / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004315:Doxapram / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D004315:Doxapram