I get my Ceftriaxone (Rocephin) delivered as powder in vials which then have to be reconstituted with about 20 ml of saline solution and then this mixture diluted by injection into an IV bag containing 100 ml of saline diluent. This results in a Rocephin concentration of 2 grams/ 120 ml or 24 mg/ml in the IV bag.
According to the Rocephin FDA insert when refrigerated .9% saline solutions of 10mg/ml to 40mg/ml Rocephin should be stable in plastic (PVC) for 10 days, where ``stable'' is defined as retaining greater than 90% of original potency.
So I was planning on mixing a week's supply of Rocephin into 7 IV bags (as described above) and then refrigerating but the home health nurse I see suggested mixed Rocephin would not last a week.
So I'm confused; I think I can trust the FDA pamphlet, but is there any reason to believe that because my Ceftriaxone powder is a generic or because my IV bag is ``PAB'' plastic instead of PVC plastic that the length of stability (in refrigeration) would be different?
Or, more simply, for those of you who get your Rocephin/Ceftriaxone delivered premixed, how long is the supply for? A few days? A week? Is there a cold-pack or something like that attached?
Sincerely,
john duncan
-------------------- "...reading the Meditations for long periods can be conducive of melancholy." --qtd. in intro to Meditations Posts: 122 | From San Diego, CA, California, United States | Registered: Mar 2005
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I get mine premixed 10 day supply at a time, its on ice and then goes right in the fridge. I am a nurse myself, I see no problem with mixing a weeks worth , as long as its refrigerated. Good luck , I am on day 32 patti
Posts: 41 | From new york | Registered: Mar 2006
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my son has rocephin as a push and it comes premixed , packaged with an ice pack until we refrigerate it. We get a delivery once a week, and he is instructed to set it out at room temp for 1 hour before infusing.
I don't know about the stablitiy of the medication in an iv bag, but I'm sure others will pipe in.
Good Luck!
Posts: 663 | From NH USA | Registered: Sep 2004
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My pre-mixed rocephin came once a week in a styrofoam cooler with an ice pack.
P
Posts: 449 | From Vermont | Registered: Nov 2004
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david1097
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If cooled it will last at least a week if cooled. Whenit starts to turn very red it is oxidising and will loose its potentcy.
About mixing..
Try to find a thing call a "reconstitution device" it is a one shot use plastc device the plugs into the vial and the saline bag. It is far more convenient than using a syringe. Also I have always mixed directly into the infusion bag with no apparent negative effect, thereby saving a step (that is unless your drug is being delivered with a a minibag attached, which incidentally costs a lot more than the straight vial)
Posts: 1184 | From north america | Registered: Feb 2003
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Thanks patti, achey, sweet pea & david1097 for your very helpful replies. Thanks achey for mentioning how long you were instructed to set it out at room temp before infusing --hadn't thought to ask that.
As of now I'm mixing a weeks worth and then refrigerating the six Rocephin bags I don't use right away.
Based on what you're telling me and what the Rocephin insert said it sounds like this is fine to do. However I may call my pharmacy to confirm it, as I just realized the saline bags say "do not store."
I think this way is more convenient than mixing everyday, other than taking longer on the day I actually mix them & my arm hurting from shaking the Rocephin bottles after I reconstitute them (how sad is that?! )w/ saline.
Thanks much,
Posts: 122 | From San Diego, CA, California, United States | Registered: Mar 2005
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