Diazepam Administration
Oral Administration
- The dose of the oral concentrate solution should be added to 30 ml or more of liquid (e.g., water, juices, carbonated, soda-like beverages) or to semi-solid foods (e.g., applesauce, pudding) prior to administration.
Parenteral Administration
- Strict aseptic technique must always be maintained during handling of parenteral products. Diazepam injectable emulsion (Dizac™) contains no antimicrobial preservatives and can support rapid growth of microorganisms.
- Following parenteral administration, patients should be kept under observation for a period of 3 to 8 hours or longer, based on the patient’s clinical response and rate of recovery.
- Replace parenteral therapy with oral therapy as soon as possible.
- Visually inspect parenteral products for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration whenever solution and container permit.
Diazepam injection solution:
- No dilution necessary. Dilution may cause precipitation.
Diazepam emulsified injection:
- For intravenous administration only. Diazepam emulsified injection should be prepared for single patient use only.
- Diazepam emulsified injection should be prepared for use just prior to initiation of each individual treatment procedure.
- The injection emulsion should be drawn into sterile syringes immediately after ampules are opened. The syringe(s) should be labeled with appropriate information including the date and time the ampule was opened.
- Administration should commence promptly and be completed within 6 hours after the ampules have been opened.
- Any unused portion of diazepam emulsified injection reservoirs, dedicated administration tubing and/or solutions containing diazepam emulsified injection must be discarded after the end of parenteral treatment or at 6 hours, whichever occurs sooner.
- The IV line should be flushed every 6 hours and at the end of treatment procedure to remove residual diazepam emulsified injection. Do not use if there is evidence of separation of the phases of the emulsion.
Intramuscular injection (Diazepam injection solution only):
- This route is usually not recommended due to slow and erratic absorption.
- Inject deeply into a large muscle mass. Aspirate prior to injection to avoid injection into a blood vessel.
Intravenous injection:
- Do not administer rapidly because respiratory depression or hypotension may develop. Monitor heart rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure during IV use.
- A large vein should be used to avoid thrombosis. If a large vein is not available, inject into the tubing of a flowing IV solution as close as possible to the vein insertion.
- Do not add diazepam emulsified injection to infusion sets containing PVC. Do not administer diazepam emulsified injection through filters with a pore size less than 5 microns because this could restrict the flow of the emulsion and/or cause the breakdown of the emulsion.
- Adults: inject IV slowly at a rate not exceeding 5 mg/minute.
- Infants and children: inject IV slowly at a rate not exceeding 1 - 2 mg/minute.
Rectal Administration
- Patients/Caregivers should thoroughly read and understand the administration steps for diazepam rectal gel.
- NOTE: Inspect product before preparation and administration. Small cracks have been noted at the base of the plastic tip of the applicators with resultant leakage of the medication when the plunger is depressed, preventing full dosing and potentially resulting in a sub-optimal therapeutic response. If a cracked syringe is noted, notify your dispensing pharmacist to inspect the product. U.S. Pharmacists should contact Rx Hope at 1 - 800 - 511 - 2120 for replacement product.
Diastat® AcuDial™ preparation:
- NOTE: A pharmacist must Dial in the Dose and Lock the rectal syringe prior to dispensing the product to the patient. It is ready when the “Green Ready Band” in clearly visible.
- Hold barrel of the syringe with the cap pointed downward. Grasp cap with the other hand and turn to adjust dose. The prescribed dose should appear in the window. Grasp and push the locking ring upward to lock both sides of the ring.
- If the ring is locked at an incorrect dose, call 1 - 877 - 361 - 2719.
Administration steps:
- Put person on their side where they can not fall.
- Get the medicine and the syringe. To remove protective cover from syringe, push up with thumb and pull. Ensure that both the cap and seal pin are removed.
- If an AcuDial™ syringe is being used, confirm the correct dose by looking at the dose shown on the syringe display window. Also, the green ‘ready’ band should be visible.
- Lubricate rectal tip with lubricating jelly.
- Turn person on side facing you and bend upper leg forward to expose rectum. Separate buttocks to expose rectum.
- Gently insert syringe tip into rectum (rim should be snug against rectal opening) and slowly count to 3 while gently pushing the plunger in until it stops. Slowly count to 3 before removing the syringe from the rectum.
- Slowly count to 3 while holding the buttocks together to prevent leakage.
- Keep person on the side facing you, note time given and continue to observe.
- If an AcuDial™ syringe was used, pull the plunger out and then replace and push in to expel any remaining drug into the sink or toilet.
[ Last revised: 4/7/2006 11:04:00 AM ]
Related entries
Syndicate
|
