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. 2018 Jul;25(4):176-182.
doi: 10.1136/ejhpharm-2016-001107. Epub 2017 Mar 3.

A retrospective and observational analysis of harmful excipients in medicines for hospitalised neonates in Latvia

Inese Sviestina  1   2 , Dzintars Mozgis  3
Affiliations

A retrospective and observational analysis of harmful excipients in medicines for hospitalised neonates in Latvia

Inese Sviestina et al. Eur J Hosp Pharm. 2018 Jul.

Abstract

Background: Medicines used in neonates contain different excipients, which may not be safe in this age group.

Objective: To analyse the frequency at which hospitalised neonates are exposed to harmful excipients (HEs) and to identify substitution possibilities for medicines containing HEs.

Materials and methods: Retrospective, observational study at a university paediatric hospital from 1 September 2015 till 29 February 2016. All hospitalised neonates who received a prescription for medicines containing an HE were included. Neonates were divided into four groups according to gestational age (<28 weeks; 28 to <32 weeks; 32 to <37 weeks and ≥37 weeks). The following excipients were analysed: parabens, polysorbate 80, propylene glycol, benzoates, saccharin sodium, sorbitol, ethanol and benzalkonium chloride. Excipients were identified from the Summaries of Product Characteristics.

Results: 296 (102(34.5%) preterm) neonates included in the study received 1472 prescriptions for 106 medicines. The most often used formulations were intravenous (48/106; 45.3%) and oral solid formulations (20; 18.9%). The total number of different excipients was 169. In total, 29/106 (27.4%) medicines contained at least one HE. In total 82/102 (80.4%) preterm and 118/194 (60.8%) term neonates received medications with at least one HE. Substitution was possible for 9/29 (31.0%) HE-containing medicines.

Conclusions: Use of HEs can be reduced by using HE-free products available on the European market. However, medicine substitution was possible in only a small number of cases. Therefore the main focus should be on information and education of the hospital specialists about HEs used in medicines and their adverse reactions.

Keywords: harmful excipients; hospitals; neonates; pharmaceutical excipients; substitution of harmful excipients.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Number of medicines with and without HE excipients Figure 1 87x50mm (600 x 600 DPI).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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