Pharmacists consulted on paediatric formulations
Children’s medicines under consultation |
Pharmacists are being consulted on their views about the formulation of children's medicines, which might bring about new European guidelines for the pharmaceutical industry.
A European Medicines Agency (EMEA) working party, chaired by Tony Nunn,
clinical director of pharmacy at the Royal Liverpool Children’s
NHS Trust, has produced the consultation paper, “Reflection paper
on formulations of choice for the paediatric population” (PDF 370K).
It is aimed at the industry to highlight the issues around the formulation
of medicines for children including liquids, their taste and texture,
as well as the size of ampoules, the concentration of the medicines,
and trans-dermal patches.
Mr Nunn said: “We are trying to alert people to the current state
of knowledge about formulations for children and to reflect on that.
“Do we, for example, need guidelines on the taste in children’s
medicines because we know that children’s perceptions of taste
are different from adults’? Often when we test for taste we use
adult testing panels, which seems a bit silly.
“It also includes a plea to the pharmaceutical industry to provide
more information to allow us to [administer] children’s medicines
more safely and effectively.”
The results of the consultation may lead to new guidelines around the
formulation of children’s medicines but that, according to Mr Nunn,
will depend on comments received. “It will be up to the EMEA to
decide where to go next,” he said.
The deadline for comments on the consultation paper (PDF 370K)
is 31 December 2005. |
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