American journal of health-system pharmacy : AJHP : official journal of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists
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Am J Health Syst Pharm · Dec 1998
Stability of ondansetron hydrochloride and 12 medications in plastic syringes.
The stability and compatibility of ondansetron hydrochloride with neostigmine methylsulfate, naloxone hydrochloride, midazolam hydrochloride, fentanyl citrate, alfentanil hydrochloride, atropine sulfate, morphine sulfate, meperidine hydrochloride, propofol, droperidol, metoclopramide monohydrochloride, and glycopyrrolate were studied. Ondansetron 1.33 or 1.0 mg/mL was combined with 0.9% sodium chloride injection and each of the 12 drugs in duplicate in plastic syringes (or glass for propofol). The syringes were stored at 21.8-23.4 or 4 degrees C in the dark, except for those containing propofol, which were stored at ambient temperature. ⋯ Solutions containing each of the other drugs except droperidol retained more than 90% of their initial concentration of these drugs. The solutions containing droperidol retained more than 90% of their initial droperidol concentration for up to eight hours at ambient temperature but precipitated quickly at 4 degrees C. In combinations of ondansetron 1.33 or 1.0 mg/mL and 10 of 12 drugs, all drugs were stable for 24 hours in plastic syringes at 23 and 4 degrees C; ondansetron hydrochloride 1.0 mg/mL and propofol 1.0 and 5.0 mg/mL in admixtures were stable for 4 hours, and droperidol on its own and combined with ondansetron 1.0 mg/mL was stable for no more than 8 hours at ambient temperature.
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Am J Health Syst Pharm · Oct 1998
ReviewClinical considerations in selecting antiplatelet therapy in cerebrovascular disease.
Effective antiplatelet drugs--aspirin, ticlopidine, dipyridamole, and clopidogrel--are reviewed. Aspirin has remained the pharmacologic foundation of stroke prevention, primarily because of its low cost. It has been shown to provide a 22% relative risk reduction of stroke in high-risk patients. ⋯ Clopidogrel has been associated with a small occurrence of rash and diarrhea, and gastrointestinal intolerance and hemorrhage were less frequent with clopidogrel than with aspirin. Both aspirin and clopidogrel are associated with a low occurrence of neutropenia. Aspirin, ticlopidine, dipyridamole, and clopidogrel have earned a role in stroke prevention; the different adverse-effect profiles of the drugs will influence the choice of agent.
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Am J Health Syst Pharm · May 1998
Comparative StudyStability of cisatracurium besylate in vials, syringes, and infusion admixtures.
The stability of cisatracurium besylate was studied. Cisatracurium (as besylate) 2 mg/mL in 5- and 10-mL unopened vials and 10 mg/mL in 20-mL unopened vials, as well as 3 mL of solution from additional 2-mg/mL vials, repackaged in 3-mL sealed plastic syringes, was stored at 4 and 23 degrees C in the dark and in normal fluorescent room light. Admixtures of cisatracurium (as besylate) 0.1, 2, or 5 mg/mL in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) minibags of 5% dextrose injection or 0.9% sodium chloride injection were stored at 4 and 23 degrees C in normal fluorescent room light. ⋯ Cisatracurium (as besylate) 0.1, 2, and 5 mg/mL in 5% dextrose injection and in 0.9% sodium chloride injection was stable for at least 30 days at 4 degrees C, but substantial drug losses occurred at 23 degrees C. Admixtures prepared with cisatracurium (as besylate) 0.1 mg/mL and with 5% dextrose injection exhibited the greatest losses. Cisatracurium besylate was stable in most samples for at least 30 days at 4 and 23 degrees C; admixtures containing cisatracurium (as besylate) 0.1 or 2 mg/mL exhibited substantial drug loss at 23 degrees C.