Chapter 10 Reconstitution of Powdered Drugs Copyright 2015

Reconstitution Directions • On vial, labels may be small and difficult to read. •

Purpose • Drugs in powder form retain potency for only short time once reconstituted.

Drug Volume After Reconstitution • Reconstituted volumes do not always exactly equal amount of

Reconstituting a Drug • The person who reconstitutes a drug is responsible for labeling

Reconstitution: Step 1 • Locate directions on label, package insert, or current parenteral medication

Diluent Information • Type of diluent varies for different drugs. – Sterile water used

Diluent Information (cont’d) • If directions given for both IM and IV reconstitution, be

Reconstitution: Step 2 • Once diluent identified, use sterile syringe and aseptic technique to

Vial Pressure • If powdered medication in vial, syringe plunger forced out to expel

Reconstitution: Step 3 • After diluent injected, rotate and up end vial until all

Reconstitution: Step 4 • After reconstitution, locate information that notes how long reconstituted medication

Reconstitution: Step 5 • Document the following items: – Initials of person reconstituting medication

Reconstitution Information • If all information needed for reconstitution not on medication vial label,

Multiple Strength Solutions • Some powdered medications offer choice of dosage strengths. • Reconstituted

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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 © 2015 Copyright Cengage©Learning® 2015 Cengage Learning® 10 -4

Reconstituting a Drug • The person who reconstitutes a drug is responsible for labeling it with the date and time of expiration, and must initial it. Copyright © 2015 Copyright Cengage©Learning® 2015 Cengage Learning® 10 -5

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. (continues) Copyright © 2015 Copyright Cengage©Learning® 2015 Cengage Learning® 10 -7

Diluent Information (cont’d) • If directions given for both IM and IV reconstitution, be careful to read correct set for solution being prepared. Copyright © 2015 Copyright Cengage©Learning® 2015 Cengage Learning® 10 -8

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 © 2015 Copyright Cengage©Learning® 2015 Cengage Learning® 10 -9

Vial Pressure • If powdered medication in vial, syringe plunger forced out to expel air. – Re-equalizes internal vial pressure as diluent injected Copyright © 2015 Copyright Cengage©Learning® 2015 Cengage Learning® 10 -10

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 © 2015 Copyright Cengage©Learning® 2015 Cengage Learning® 10 -11

Reconstitution: Step 5 • Document the following items: – Initials of person reconstituting medication – Reconstitution date and time – Expiration date and time Copyright © 2015 Copyright Cengage©Learning® 2015 Cengage Learning® 10 -13

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 © 2015 Copyright Cengage©Learning® 2015 Cengage Learning® 10 -14

Multiple Strength Solutions • Some powdered medications offer choice of dosage strengths. • Reconstituted strength must be added to label information. Copyright © 2015 Copyright Cengage©Learning® 2015 Cengage Learning® 10 -15