Doxofylline Dosing in Pediatric Patients
The recommended dose of doxofylline in children is 18 mg/kg/day, divided into appropriate doses throughout the day, based on the most recent clinical evidence in pediatric asthma management. 1
Evidence-Based Dosing Recommendation
The standard pediatric dose is 18 mg/kg/day, which has been studied in children aged 6-16 years with asthma and demonstrated efficacy as a steroid-sparing agent while maintaining lung function and improving asthma control 1
This dosing regimen was evaluated over a 10-week period in Mexican children with asthma, showing that it allowed reduction of inhaled corticosteroid doses while maintaining disease control 1
Important Clinical Considerations
Age Restrictions
Doxofylline has been specifically studied in children 6 years and older, so use in younger children lacks robust safety and efficacy data 1
Pediatric dosing cannot simply be scaled down from adult doses using weight alone, as drug elimination pathways differ significantly in children, particularly in neonates and infants who have immature elimination systems 2
Safety Profile
Doxofylline demonstrates a superior safety profile compared to traditional methylxanthines like theophylline, with significantly fewer side effects including reduced effects on cardiovascular function, central nervous system stimulation, and gastric acid secretion 3
The drug shows minimal effects on diuresis and sodium excretion compared to aminophylline, and does not increase locomotor activity at therapeutic doses 3
Clinical Outcomes
When combined with inhaled corticosteroids, doxofylline maintained lung function (FEV1) and improved asthma control while allowing for reduction in daily corticosteroid doses 1
Few asthma exacerbations occurred during treatment, with only one patient requiring systemic corticosteroids in the clinical study 1
Rescue medication (salbutamol) use decreased significantly in patients receiving the combination therapy 1
Critical Caveats
Longer-term controlled studies are needed to fully establish the safety and efficacy profile of doxofylline in pediatric populations 1
The available evidence is limited to children with asthma; use for other respiratory conditions in pediatrics lacks specific dosing guidance 1
Individual pharmacokinetic considerations must account for the child's age, size, and organ maturity, as these factors significantly influence drug elimination and response 4, 2