Morphine plasma concentrations were determined in 19 children with cancer. A single dose of morphine, 0.09-0.15 mg/kg, was given intravenously over 3-5 min. The plasma concentrations of morphine ranged from 23 to 472 ng/ml at 10 min and from 6.1 to 20.8 ng/ml at 60 min after morphine administration. The morphine plasma concentration exceeded the reported average analgesic concentration of about 20 ng/ml in only 1 patient at 60 min and subsequently declined further except for 4 patients in whom plasma levels exhibited a secondary peak. The pharmacokinetics of morphine was studied in 6 children. The total clearance of morphine ranged from 9.03 to 53.4 ml/min/kg. The apparent volume of the central compartment and the apparent volume of distribution at steady state ranged from 0.17 to 1.10 and from 2.06 to 7.86 1/kg, respectively. The elimination half-life ranged from 0.86 to 7.55 h. These data indicate that an interindividual variation in morphine pharmacokinetics is one factor responsible for varying dosage requirements in children with cancer.

Keywords:
Morphine, Plasma concentration, Kinetics, Children, Cancer
This content is only available via PDF.
1985
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.