IV forms of Zofran and Decadron given PO???

[GleeGum]

Have any of you ever heard or worked in an ER where they gave the IV/IM form of Zofran or Decadron PO instead?

[FlyingScot, RN]

I knew I would be in trouble with that last post. You are right, thanks! I was thinking of the Zofran tablets anyway. They have been really easy to dissolve under almost any kid's tongue.

No, not in trouble at all. Just giving you a different viewpoint. Some hospitals are too cheap to get the rapid dissolve tablets.

[rph3664]

No, not in trouble at all. Just giving you a different viewpoint. Some hospitals are too cheap to get the rapid dissolve tablets.

Do they know that Zofran ODT is available as a generic nowadays?

[FlyingScot, RN]

Yes, but you know how slowly things change. You'd think the hospital formulary was the third tablet given to Moses in the burning bush!!!!

[ReggaeRN]

Same with us. We do IV Decadron PO, although the only times I have ever given it that way was mixed with cherry syrup and to infants/children. Have never seen IV Zofran given PO, though it could be possible... we have Zofran orally disintegrating tabs that are pretty convenient.

[TXTraumaRN]

Have done the whole giving IV decadron orally, with the hospital pharmacist's blessing. Have not given IV Zofran orally, but have dissolved the oral tablets in juice (or the like) and given it to peds that way. They seem to tolerate it better than having to let the tablet dissolve on its own. This especially works for the toddler/young kid range.

[Medic09, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

Yes, but you know how slowly things change. You'd think the hospital formulary was the third tablet given to Moses in the burning bush!!!!

Lessee...the burning bush was before Mt. Sinai. Moses got two tablets at Mt. Sinai. HIPAA prevents us from knowing why he was prescribed two tablets. In any case, any third tablet would have to be after he was at Mt. Sinai, which means also after the burning bush.

[kristenohiorn]

I have given Zofran PO mixed with apple juice for the little ones, much easier then giving an injection to a two year old. Called the pharmacy to check before administering the first few times and they said for sure no problem.

Good luck!

Kristen

[phrnallie]

Yep, definitely given Zofran bottled for IV admin, PO. Its the same thing. Easy fix if you can't get an IV (and cheaper too lol)

[Hagabel]

Have any of you ever heard or worked in an ER where they gave the IV/IM form of Zofran or Decadron PO instead?

Yes, used to give IV decadrom and mix it with juice or something else. Accepted pharmacy policy. Zofran IV I have only given only IV in my experience. Why not used the wafer or oral Zofran as both are readily available?

[sapphire18]

Yes, used to give IV decadrom and mix it with juice or something else. Accepted pharmacy policy. Zofran IV I have only given only IV in my experience. Why not used the wafer or oral Zofran as both are readily available?

Because the PO form is not always stocked at all times in all facilities. It does the same thing.

[hiddencatRN, BSN, RN]

My question is...why would you? I'd be very hesitant to administer anything IV by the P.O. route...particularly if you have a patent IV site...why run the risk?

In peds, little kids can't swallow pills and we do not stock liquid decadron. So our choices are to crush a pill and mix it with syrup or give the IV version PO. Crushing and mixing the pill usually works out to much more liquid than using the 10:1 IV version, and with fighters giving the same dose in a smaller amount of fluid makes it easier to administer. The order is written to administer the medication PO, so we're not changing the order by doing so.

[brainkandy87]

Heck, my hospital has been out of IV Zofran for months now. Been giving Zofran ODT.