Évaluation de suspensions orales pédiatriques de spironolactone, hydrochlorothiazide et captopril: Stabilité microbiologique et revue d'utilisation clinique

Due to the lack of medicines licensed for children, the hospital pharmacists make magistrals to satisfy the physicians' requests for use in pediatrics. At Robert Debré Children Hospital, oral suspensions were made for spironolactone, hydrochlorothiazide and captopril using excipients, Ora Sweef® and Ora Plus®. The aims of this study were to assess the microbiological stability of these suspensions as well as the satisfactory level of their administrations by patients and nurses. A clinical use review has been also made for the two diuretics. The suspensions remained sterile according to the European Pharmacopeia after 60 days. During the 7 months assessment, 66 administrations of these suspensions were recorded. The survey showed that 90% of the nurses judged the oral suspension easy to administer and in 75 p. cents much easier than capsules. The portability of these suspensions was considered as good by the patients. These drugs were prescribed for water retention due to bronchodysplasia in the neonatal and intensive care units and for heart failure in the cardiology unit. The oral suspensions of hydrochlorothiazide, spironolactone made with Ora Plus® and Ora Sweet® fully met pediatric needs at Robert Debré Hospital whereas captopril owing to its low strength (0.75 mg/mL) was only used for small PICU patients.