Fantoms
Unwanted extras
Oral medicinations commonly given to preterm newborns, such as iron, vitamins, mineral supplements and steroids, have usually been formulated for older patient groups. They may contain various additives (excipients) such as solvents, emulsifiers, preservatives, colourings, sweeteners and flavourings that have not been fully evaluated in terms of safe exposure in newborns. Whittaker and colleagues have estimated the exposure to these compounds during their hospital course of a group of preterm infants. Their findings are alarming and raise the possibility that they could even contribute to adverse outcome. For example, a preterm infant on furosemide may be exposed chronically to alcohol at a dose, weight for weight, equivalent to an adult consuming several units per week. The study highlights the need for better labeling of medicines and the importance of trials with appropriate outcome …
