Chapter 10 Reconstitution of Powdered Drugs Copyright 2010














- Slides: 14
Chapter 10 Reconstitution of Powdered Drugs Copyright © 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Purpose • Drugs in powder form retain potency for only short time once reconstituted – e. g. , ampicillin Copyright © 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Key Safety Point • Reconstitution directions on vial labels are small and difficult to read, mandating extreme care in reading them Copyright © 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Drug Volume After Reconstitution • Reconstituted volumes do not always exactly equal amount of diluent because medication itself has volume – Makes total volume larger than amount of diluent injected into vial Copyright © 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Reconstitution: Step 1 • Locate directions on label, package insert, or current parenteral medication reference Copyright © 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Diluent Information • Type of diluent varies for different drugs – Sterile water used most frequently for parenteral drug reconstitution • Volume of diluent varies for different drugs Copyright © 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Diluent Information • If directions given for both IM and IV reconstitution, be careful to read correct set for solution being prepared Copyright © 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Reconstitution: Step 2 • Once diluent identified, use sterile syringe and aseptic technique to draw up volume of diluent required for reconstitution of specific medication Copyright © 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Vial Pressure • If powdered medication in vial, syringe plunger forced out to expel air – Re-equalizes internal vial pressure as diluent injected Copyright © 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Reconstitution: Step 3 • After diluent injected, rotate and up-end vial until all medication dissolved • Most parenteral medications should not be shaken to dissolve powder Copyright © 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Reconstitution: Step 4 • After reconstitution, locate information that notes how long reconstituted medication can be stored Copyright © 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Reconstitution: Step 5 • Document the following items: – Initials of person reconstituting medication – Reconstitution date and time – Expiration date and time Copyright © 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Reconstitution Information • If all information needed for reconstitution not on medication vial label, obtain from one of the following locations: – Medication package insert – Current and reliable medication reference – Facility pharmacy Copyright © 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Multiple Strength Solutions • Some powdered medications offer choice of dosage strengths • Reconstituted strength must be added to label information Copyright © 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.