The influence of body weight on plasma concentration of atropine after rectal administration in children.

To avoid an unpleasant injection, the rectal administration of drugs to children is often to be preferred. Very little has been published on plasma concentrations of atropine given rectally. To determine whether body weight has any influence on the plasma concentrations of atropine, 18 children weighing 7.5-55.0 kg were given 0.02 mg atropine sulphate per kg rectally, and the plasma levels of atropine were determined. The mean peak plasma concentration of atropine was 1.17 ng/ml and it was reached after 33 min. In the group of smaller children (b.w. less than 15 kg) the peak plasma concentration was (0.83 ng/ml) lower than that observed in older children (1.26-1.36 ng/ml), but this difference was not statistically significant. Plasma concentrations in the group of smaller children declined significantly faster than in the other weight groups.