A neonate has been prescribed a water-soluble drug for the treatment of an acute infection. The nurse recognizes that the percentage of body water in an infant is significantly higher than that of an adult
What implication does this have for pharmacotherapy of an infant? A) The drug will need to be emulsified before administration.
B) The infant's fluid intake will be reduced before and after administration.
C) The infant will have a fat-soluble drug substituted.
D) The infant may require an increased dose of the drug.
D
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In adults, total body water is approximately 60%, whereas in newborns, it is 80%. This difference means that water-soluble drugs are diluted easily and readily moved into intercellular tissue. As a result, serum drug concentrations are lower, and increased dosages of water-soluble drugs may be necessary to maintain therapeutic drug levels. Substitutes may not be available, and fluid restriction does not compensate for this physiological difference.
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