Solution for Infantile Spasms

One of the biggest challenges when dealing with drug therapy and children is finding the right dose of the medicine, especially if there aren't any dosage recommendations from the manufacturer that are FDA-approved. Another challenge is delivering the medicine to the child, especially a young child who cannot swallow solid dosage forms. Oftentimes, tablets are crushed or capsules are opened to make a solution or a suspension (depending on how well the particles dissolve in water), but this cannot be done with all medicine. Nor should this be done at home, unless advised by the pharmacist or your child's doctor for single doses to be given shortly after preparation.

It is always exciting to see that a drug that has been available for adults become approved for use by children. Additionally, it is going to be available as an oral solution and in a strength that can be easily measured by a parent. It certainly broadens the treatment options and may even increase the adherence of the regimen. One such addition is Sabril (vigabatrin) oral solution for infantile spasms in children aged 1 month to 2 years. This is the first drug to be approved by the FDA for this condition. Vigabatrin has been available as tablets for adult use in the treatment of complex seizures in combination with other medicines. More about infantile spasms and Sabril is found in the press release. May many more pediatric oral dosage forms become available soon.