Ativan IM?

GoNightingale, BSN, RN · Jan 23, 2011

Yes Ativan is very viscus. In psych yes we give it IM daily....if you use a large gauge needle to DRAW ONLY....like a 16 or 14.....it draws much quicker, which in psych is important. Then ALWAYS BE SURE TO CHANGE to a standard gauge IM needle. I once saw a nurse forget to change the needle and ouch!!!! But when you do it multiple times a day to draw up and switch it becomes a habit fast. Just like drawing with a filter needle and switching. And also it stings less with no med on the outside of the needle as it is injected. And no you don't need to dilute it. It does push slow. Any viscus drug does.
And FYI--I know you came here for second opinions......but like said prior its always good to check a med book or even just pick up the phone at your hospital and call the pharmacy and ask a pharmacist--always a reliable source and good cuz unlike a book you can clarify or ask questions about anything you are not clear about. Get to know your pharmacist--thats their job to be a resource.....I've called over the years about a lot and actually learned a lot from some really helpful pharmacists.

Thanks for your very wise comment mentalhealthrn. Second opinions can be helpful, but when it somes to conserving your license, it is best to go to "the source". :yeah:

mentalhealthRN · Jan 24, 2011

Our docs would tell us there were cardiac risks in giving Zyprexa and Ativan too close. And also I need to say after reading all these posts.....I think that it is important to separate that acute care psych and other settings are not the same as far as Ativan (or other benzo) use.......ummmm a chemical restraint is not illegal in psych. That is the point! lol.... and we have orders for it, same as for physical restraints. And the regs for physical restraints are different in and outside of psych as well.....so keep that in mind folks.

GoNightingale, BSN, RN · Jan 26, 2011

Our docs would tell us there were cardiac risks in giving Zyprexa and Ativan too close. And also I need to say after reading all these posts.....I think that it is important to separate that acute care psych and other settings are not the same as far as Ativan (or other benzo) use.......ummmm a chemical restraint is not illegal in psych. That is the point! lol.... and we have orders for it, same as for physical restraints. And the regs for physical restraints are different in and outside of psych as well.....so keep that in mind folks.

Good point mentalheathrn. Thanks to everyone for your valuable input. :yeah:

wildlaurel · Jan 26, 2011

Funny - I just looked this up in my med administration book not too long ago. My Mosby's says to dilute IVP Ativan with equal amounts of sterile water or NS. It seems to suggest that you should also dilute IM preparations too, but it doesn't explicitly say that. Our pharmacy in the hospital says it doesn't have to be diluted for IM administration.