Pediatric medication needs sometimes raise dosage-form or ingredient questions that should be addressed by the prescriber and pharmacist for the specific prescription.

Pediatric Prescription Formulation Questions

Children can have medication-administration challenges that are different from those of adults. A child may have difficulty swallowing a tablet or capsule, or a prescriber may need to account for an ingredient or dosage-form issue when choosing a product.

Start with the prescribed medicine

The active ingredient, strength, dosage form and directions should come from the child's prescriber and the product actually dispensed. Parents and caregivers should not convert tablets, liquids or compounded preparations on their own based on general online instructions.

When compounding may be considered

FDA notes that compounding may serve an important need when a patient cannot be treated with an appropriate FDA-approved medicine, including situations in which a child cannot swallow a tablet or capsule and needs another dosage form. Compounded drugs are not FDA-approved, so the need for compounding should be specific to the patient and prescription.

Questions to discuss

• What exact dosage form did the prescriber intend?
• Is an appropriate FDA-approved pediatric or alternative dosage form available?
• Are there ingredient, flavor or administration concerns relevant to the child?
• If a compounded preparation is prescribed, what formulation is specified?
• How should the product be stored and measured according to its label?

This page does not promise that broad categories of pediatric conditions can be treated with compounded or transdermal medicines. Product-specific evidence and the prescriber's plan remain essential.

For general compounding information, see Prescription Compounding.