upadacitinib
Rinvoq LQ
Pharmaceutical company: AbbVie
NEW FORMULATION
Oral solution: 1 mg/mL
NEW INDICATION & DOSAGE
Active psoriatic arthritis in patients who have had an inadequate response or intolerance to one or more tumor necrosis factor blockers
Children age 2 to younger than age 18 weighing at least 30 kg: 15-mg tablet PO once daily or 6-mg oral solution PO b.i.d.
Children age 2 to younger than age 18 weighing 20 kg to less than 30 kg: 4-mg oral solution PO b.i.d.
Children age 2 to younger than age 18 weighing 10 kg to less than 20 kg: 3-mg oral solution PO b.i.d.
Adjust-a-dose: If serious infection develops, interrupt the drug until infection is controlled. Interrupt therapy if ANC in less than 1,000 cells/mm3, absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) is less than 500 cells/mm3, or hemoglobin level is less than 8 g/dL. Restart the drug once ANC, ALC, or hemoglobin level returns to above these values. If liver transaminase levels rise and drug-induced liver injury is suspected, interrupt therapy until diagnosis is excluded.
Released: July 2024
Nursing Drug Handbook
© 2024 Wolters Kluwer
diazepam
Libervant
Pharmaceutical company: Aquestive Therapeutics
NEW FORMULATION
Buccal film: 5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg, 15 mg
NEW INDICATION & DOSAGE
Acute treatment of intermittent, stereotypic episodes of frequent seizure activity that are distinct from the usual seizure pattern in children with epilepsy (Libervant)
Children ages 2 to 5 weighing 26 to 30 kg: 15 mg buccal film allowed to dissolve without additional liquid, PRN.
Children ages 2 to 5 weighing 21 to 25 kg: 12.5 mg buccal film allowed to dissolve without additional liquid, PRN.
Children ages 2 to 5 weighing 16 to 20 kg: 10 mg buccal film allowed to dissolve without additional liquid, PRN.
Children ages 2 to 5 weighing 11 to 15 kg: 7.5 mg buccal film allowed to dissolve without additional liquid, PRN.
Children ages 2 to 5 weighing 6 to 10 kg: 5 mg buccal film allowed to dissolve without additional liquid, PRN.
Adjust-a-dose: May give second dose PRN at least 4 hours after the first dose. Maximum dosage to treat single episode, two doses. Do not use buccal film to treat more than one episode every 5 days, or more than five episodes per month.
Released: July 2024
Nursing Drug Handbook
© 2024 Wolters Kluwer
apremilast
Otezla
Pharmaceutical company: Amgen
NEW INDICATION & DOSAGE
Moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in patients who are candidates for phototherapy or systemic therapy
Children age 6 and older weighing 50 kg or more: Initially, 10 mg PO in a.m. on day 1; 10 mg b.i.d. (a.m. and p.m.) on day 2; 10 mg in a.m. and 20 mg in p.m. on day 3; 20 mg b.i.d. on day 4; 20 mg in a.m. and 30 mg in p.m. on day 5; then 30 mg b.i.d. on day 6 and thereafter.
Children age 6 and older weighing at least 20 kg to less than 50 kg: Initially, 10 mg PO in a.m. on day 1; 10 mg b.i.d. (a.m. and p.m.) on day 2; 10 mg in a.m. and 20 mg in p.m. on day 3; then 20 mg b.i.d. on day 4 and thereafter.
Adjust-a-dose: For children with creatinine clearance of less than 30 mL/minute, titrate using only the a.m. schedule (omit p.m. doses) and reduce the maintenance dose for children weighing 50 kg or more to 30 mg once daily, or for children weighing 20 kg to less than 50 kg, reduce the maintenance dose to 20 mg once daily.
Released: July 2024
Nursing Drug Handbook
© 2024 Wolters Kluwer
methoxy polyethylene glycol-epoetin beta
Mircera
Pharmaceutical company: CSL Vifor (International) Inc.
NEW INDICATION & DOSAGE
Anemia caused by chronic kidney disease in children on dialysis or not on dialysis who are converting from another erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA) after the hemoglobin (Hb) level was stabilized with an ESA
Children ages 3 months to 17 years: Initially, IV or subcut once every 4 weeks based on total weekly epoetin alfa or darbepoetin alfa dose at time of conversion. Refer to the manufacturer's instructions for starting dose conversion. Minimum dose, 30 mcg once every 4 weeks. In patients younger than age 6, maintain the same route of administration as previous ESA.
Adjust-a-dose: If Hb decreases by more than 1 g/dL from baseline, or less than 10 g/dL but greater than 9 g/dL, increase dose by 25% to closest dose available with a prefilled syringe. If Hb is less than 9 g/dL, increase dose by 50% to closest dose available with a prefilled syringe. If Hb increases by more than 1 g/dL from baseline or approaches or is greater than 12 g/dL, decrease dose by 25% to closest dose available with a prefilled syringe. If Hb exceeds 12 g/dL and continues to increase after dose reduction, withhold drug until Hb is less than 12 g/dL. Resume the dose at 25% below the previous dose to the closest dose available with a prefilled syringe on the next scheduled dosing day.
Released: July 2024
Nursing Drug Handbook
© 2024 Wolters Kluwer