storing injectable emergency drugs drawn up in a syringe

Re: storing injectable emergency drugs drawn up in a syringe

therainyj — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 22:12:09 GMT

We don't keep any meds drawn up for the reasons outlined in previous posts. However if saving time is the aim (which generally in an emergency situation is the case!) we have a little chart on the inside of our crash box with doses for various drugs, species and weight so that we don't have to run around looking for a calculator and formulary! This may seem basic but I've been to plenty of practices who do not have this information readily available

Re: storing injectable emergency drugs drawn up in a syringe

Sal the 1st — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 21:04:04 GMT

sorry cannot find a link for that specific product - but I am pretty certain we got them through a company called Selles Medical

http://www.sellesmedical.co.uk/store/product/3534-Anaphylaxis-Kit-with-Prefilled-Syringes - I see they have this kit available so maybe the prefilled syringes are still available too?

Re: storing injectable emergency drugs drawn up in a syringe

Sal the 1st — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 20:40:57 GMT

looking for a link now as havnt used them for ages but I cant see why they wouldnt still exist - in fact thinking about it I am sure I have seen these in my GP surgery crash pack too

Re: storing injectable emergency drugs drawn up in a syringe

chris beasley — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 20:37:15 GMT

That sounds like a good idea. Where can we get them from?

Re: storing injectable emergency drugs drawn up in a syringe

Sal the 1st — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 20:36:19 GMT

you can buy preloaded single sterile packed syringes of emergency drugs such as adrenaline - and these I have had in crash boxes before.

Re: storing injectable emergency drugs drawn up in a syringe

daisy — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 20:15:28 GMT

no we used to wait until certain people were out of the room and the off colour meds magically disappeared and fresh drawn up lol

Re: storing injectable emergency drugs drawn up in a syringe

Vicky RVN — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 22:13:07 GMT

Yup. We had dopram, adrenaline and atropine.

Re: storing injectable emergency drugs drawn up in a syringe

Katy — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 22:04:40 GMT

Presume we are talking adrenaline and atropine being drawn up?

Re: storing injectable emergency drugs drawn up in a syringe

Vicky RVN — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 21:55:39 GMT

I'm not at all keen on drawn up syringes. If you have an organised crash box is doesn't take that long to draw the drug up, and the drug will actually work as it should! I've seen them go off colour before a month.

Re: storing injectable emergency drugs drawn up in a syringe

Katy — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 21:38:03 GMT

[quote user="daisy"]

they still do it even though it was in black and white from RCVS to stop immediately, iv seen the pre drawn up meds turn brown in the syringe but was told they would be ok for use!!!

[/quote]

Er well they won't!!!!! Hope no one uses them once they turn brown!!!!!

Re: storing injectable emergency drugs drawn up in a syringe

daisy — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 19:51:03 GMT

they still do it even though it was in black and white from RCVS to stop immediately, iv seen the pre drawn up meds turn brown in the syringe but was told they would be ok for use!!!

Re: storing injectable emergency drugs drawn up in a syringe

Nick Shackleton — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 19:33:33 GMT

[quote user="daisy"]

RCVS dont agree with pre drawn up medications, i worked in a practice that had this policy and during a TP inspection they were told to cease this practice and i have also seen research with states this method should not be followed

hope this helps

[/quote]

I tried to stop that when I worked there too. used to waste a bucket load of drugs

Re: storing injectable emergency drugs drawn up in a syringe

daisy — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20:04:27 GMT

hope this helps

Re: storing injectable emergency drugs drawn up in a syringe

Katy — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 22:08:23 GMT

Yep - agree with Nick.

We have some pre-filled syringes at work for the cardiac arrest boxes.

But these are specially manufactured.

Some drugs also degrade when exposed to light.

Re: storing injectable emergency drugs drawn up in a syringe

Nick Shackleton — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:13:27 GMT

Most injectables have no preservative in them, especially those supplied in glass ampoules. therefore once drawn up they should be used immediately.

Re: storing injectable emergency drugs drawn up in a syringe

nin86 — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:17:19 GMT

We keep adrenaline drawn up erady but we do replace it every month. I also vaguely remember being told not to have things pre-drawn up especially diazapam...but practically it makes sense and i guess as long as its replenished on a regular basis should be ok?

Re: storing injectable emergency drugs drawn up in a syringe

James Colver Cert. Ed, RVN — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:48:16 GMT

Thank you Sarah. I was aware that it was particularly contraindicated with diazepam, but I am very interested in what the advice is in general for storing drugs this way.

Re: storing injectable emergency drugs drawn up in a syringe

Sarah Southworth RVN CertVNECC — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:27:20 GMT

some one quote me if im wrong, but i thought it was diazepam that absorbs in the pastic??

I have been to cpd and cant remember if they said it is useful to keep adrenaline made up, labelled and refreshed monthly?

sorry not of much help