Infant Data
Results
INDICATIONS
- Sedative/hypnotic for short-term use only. Chloral hydrate has no analgesic properties; excitement may occur in patients with pain.
CONTRAINDICATIONS
Contraindicated in patients with significant hepatic or renal impairment, and in those with severe cardiac disease. Oral administration not recommended in patients with esophagitis, gastritis, or gastric or duodenal ulcers.
ADVERSE EFFECTS
Episodes of bradycardia are more frequent for up to 24 hours after a single dose in former premature infants. Gastric irritation and paradoxical excitement may also occur after a single dose. Other toxic effects have generally been reported in patients who received either repeated doses at regular intervals or acute overdoses. These effects may persist for days and include CNS, respiratory, and myocardial depression; cardiac arrhythmias; and ileus and bladder atony. Indirect hyperbilirubinemia may occur because trichloroethanol and bilirubin compete for hepatic conjugation.
ADMINISTRATION
Oral: Oral preparation should be diluted or administered after a feeding to reduce gastric irritation. Rectal: The oral preparation may be given rectally.
MONITORING
Assess level of sedation.