Neonatal Formulary

Abstract The Neonatal Formulary provides comprehensive guidance on the safe use of the drugs prescribed to mothers during pregnancy, labour and lactation, and to babies during the first year of life. Treating the journey from pregnancy to parenthood as a continuous event, this new edition contains updated information about old and new drugs. Part 1 of the book focuses on drug storage, drug licensing, and drug prescribing. In addition, it explains why the metabolism of drugs differs in premature and sick infants, and why the practice of extrapolating doses from adult studies is unsafe. Patient safety, excipients, and therapies that affect drugs are also covered. Part 2 consists of monographs for over 250 drugs that practitioners may find useful in the neonatal unit, and possibly outside it. Each monograph is divided into sections covering use, pharmacology, treatment, drug interactions, adverse effects, supply and administration, and references. The monographs are evidence-based and include links to the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and national guidelines. Part 3 presents information on the fetal or infant effects of drugs, and groups of drugs, that may be taken by mothers during pregnancy, labour, or during breastfeeding. Additional online material expands on information in the main body of the text. An online archive provides information on drugs that are no longer or rarely used. The Neonatal Formulary is an essential guide for neonatologists, neonatal nurses, hospital pharmacists, obstetric staff, advanced nurse practitioners, and for all healthcare professionals caring for pregnant women and their infants in the first year of life.