I have a friend who is just starting Lyme treatment and is doing IM rocephin. Her Rx is to mix it with lidocaine only, no sterile water.
Is this typical? What is the usual ratio mix? I am wondering if some of the burning she is experiencing is from the lidocaine and NOT the rocephin.......
Posted by sammy (Member # 13952) on :
Lidocaine is typically used to reconstitute powder Rocephin. You do not need to use saline.
The amount of Lidocaine needed will vary depending on the dose of Rocephin. Follow your doctor/pharmacists instructions. Directions will also be on the vial of ceftriaxone/Rocephin.
The burning sensation that your friend is experiencing is probably from the lidocaine. This burning is much less painful than Rocephin injections reconstituted with saline. I've heard that really hurts!
Posted by Tif (Member # 12701) on :
The Rx is for 2cc of lido per 1gm powdered rocephin...........
Posted by sammy (Member # 13952) on :
That sounds right but I don't have a vial in front of me to verify it.
Is your friend mixing and administering the Rocephin herself? If so, make sure that she mixes it thoroughly before drawing it up into the syringe to administer. It helps to hold the bottle up to a light to check for little "floaters" or undissolved chunks.
If you don't mix it well enough that can cause pain and irritation at the site. I've learned that some brands mix easier than others.
Is your friend doing the injections daily? By herself or with someones help? Either way, be sure to alternate sites. That will also help reduce pain.
Google the "ventrogluteal" IM injection site. Many people, even nurses forget about this one. It is located more in the hip area. I found it to be less painful than the dorsogluteal (butt) sites when I was on Bicillin.
Posted by Tif (Member # 12701) on :
Thanks sammy, I will go check that location out. She is rotating sides, and is doing a gram every other day right now. She is also doing orals. She has a nurse giving them most of the time; I have given her a couple.
We don't need a Rx for syringes here, so the nurse brought her 23 gauge.........which sounds about right from what I know, although it looks thin enough to me to use a 25........I haven't done IM rocephin........
Posted by WildCondor (Member # 434) on :
Only a doctors should answer that, and your friend should have that information already if he/she is doing injections.
Posted by Tif (Member # 12701) on :
Condor, FWIW, every doctor that I have been to regarding injections of any kind has told me to use whatever is more comfortable for me, as long as the length is ___ (said amount). For instance, I have been told B12 should be IM, then I have been told it should only be given subcu........and I have been told over the years anything from 23g up to insulin needles.
Like I said, because we do not have to have Rx's for needles here, that information was not given to her, and the nurse who is giving her her shots(a friend) just brought these to her. I went through all of her scripts before she got them filled and the needle information was not there.