B-52

Specialties Psychiatric

Published

If a physician ever orders IM haldol/benadryl/ativan, how do you typically administer it? Do you mix them all together or separate syringes. I've read that benadryl isn't compatible with many things. Thanks.

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I'd like to know the answer also, because where I work the doctors order the same cocktail you described and I also thought benadryl not to be compatible with many things. I would certainly give the benadryl in a separate syringe.

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Specializes in psych/addictions/liaison.

Where I am haloperidol and lorazepam are given in separate syringes.

We never use benadryl......procyclidine is our drug of first resort for side effects, and we don't give it as a matter of routine but only ifside effects are evident.

We also have new requirements to monitor pulse and BP every 10 minutes for the first hour after giving haloperidol (even oral) and then every 30 minutes till the patient is walking about.

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I've given Haldol, Ativan, and Bene all in one big syringe and a private Psych hospital and at a big Psych ER in LA. I guess it depends on where you work. I always drew up the Haldol, shot it into the Ativan vial and drew out together, Ativan is very thick and it was easier that way.

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Specializes in psychiatric ER, Mental Health.

I have always mixed the haldol and ativan. Benadryl is seperate.

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I too, administer the IM Haldol & Ativan together while giving the IM Benadryl separate. It's only because of the drugbook i have says that the Benadryl and Haldol are not compatible.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

I give Haldol and Ativan in one needle, and Benadryl or Cogentin in the other.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Neuro, ICU, travel RN, Psych.

I give the ativan and haldol together, with the benadryl seperately as well.

Mickey, I can't even imagine that. We have so many patients who take Haldol on a regular basis. We'd have a line where we did nothing but go down the line taking vitals, lol

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Specializes in Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing.

LOL, I LOVE that reference "B 52"!! We learned it at our facility when we got a transfer from upstate. Anyway.....we follow the "BAHA" rule. Everything mixes with Ativan (actually helps to get it through the needle), but don't mix benadryl and Ativan (causes crystalization).

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