amp of D50

[happyRN21]

Hi everyone,

I have the following questions: If a person is hypoglycemic and unconscious, do you give an amp of D50 or 1mg of glucagon I'm in the ED? I also want to know what an amp actually means. How many mg/cc is an amp of D50 and how do you administer it in an emergency situation? Is it IV push or IV drip? If it is an IVP, over how many mins do you push? If it's an IV drip, for how long should it infuse into the pt?

Thank you in advance for your responses.

[FancypantsRN]

i would give 1 amp d50 iv, faster acting. 1 amp is usually 50ml's from what i have seen, i push it over a couple minutes. it's hard to push, so you can't push it too fast. i have never seen a d50 drip, only d5w or d10w. in the er, you just push it like you would on the floor. it's pretty good stuff, works fast. hope this helps...

[Mommy&RN, BSN, RN]

I am on a surgical unit, but here is what we do for the most part.

1. Npo

2. Diet ordered, 4 oz of juice or regular cola. Also have glucose tabs available, but have not seen anyone choose that tx.

3. No IV access gets glucagon IM

D50 is about the consistancy of syrup, it takes a effort to push it.

[Do-over, ASN, RN]

I push the amp of D50 as fast as I can, which isn't very fast at all.

If patient is alert and oriented and able to swallow / not NPO, I give juice followed with some protein.

[GilaRRT]

One "amp" of D50 generally means giving the entire container of D-glucose 50%. this will be a 50 ml container. Since percent solutions refer to grams/100ml, a 1% solution will be 1 gram per 100ml. Therefore, 50% will be 0.5 grams per ml or 25 grams in a 50 ml "amp."

[ayla2004, ASN, RN]

nurses cant push d50 in my hospital

we give glucose tabs if can eat drink

hypostop gel if pt perfers

if not eating IM glucogon

if not effective bleep medic for iv d50 i work ina teaching hosptial and IM glucagon is very effective

[nurse2033, MSN, RN]

If you have no IV access glucagon is the far second choice. With IV access, push that syrupy goodness as fast as you can. The IV must be as proximal and large as possible, i.e. 18 or 16 in the AC.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

Looks like you work in Er. You must learn your standing orders.Please contact your nursing educator, don't be afraid to ask for more education.

The D50 amp is standardized. Get familiar with all the meds, doses and equipment so you can automatically administer the drugs.

Think about what the med is going to effect. In the case of D50,, the faster , the better.

[rkitty198, BSN, RN]

If you have a so so IV, don't give D50! Give the Glucagon. It is very acidic and if it infiltrates- tissue necrosis (I have seen it happen).

I would push it fast, yet be wary of your IV guage and go accordingly.

One amp is 50ml.

If NPO

[himilayaneyes]

Love D50, works quickly. At my hospital, we're to give D50 for blood sugar

[MunoRN, RN]

D50 should be used very conservatively. It often has a pH of 3.5, which makes it a strong vesicant (anything less than a pH of 5 is considered a vesicant). Even if it doesn't extravasate it will still damage the vein to some degree due to it's acidity. There is no reason to give it just for a BG of

[Do-over, ASN, RN]

himilayaneyes said:

But I'm not flushing oj through an ngt or anything...

I've done it - easier, effective, safer, and not to mention cheaper. Well, assuming a couple of juices are cheaper than an amp of D50 ?