D5W with 0

mama_d, BSN, RN · Sep 10, 2008

It would be hypotonic, since it has less saline than is found in cells within the human body.

Isotonic solutions have 0.9% saline and are referred to as "normal saline" or NS...the same amount of saline as is normally found within human cells.

Hypotonic solutions have less than 0.9% saline. The only concentration I've ever used has been0.45% saline, or "1/2 normal"...

Hypertonic solutions have more than 0.9% saline. I have at times had to give 3% saline to a patient (only ever ones who presented with soduim levels in the 110's). At our hospital you have to special order hypertonic saline b/c of the risks involved with it.

Hope that helped.

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Sep 10, 2008

d5½ns is hypertonic.

see the table of commonly used iv solutions.doc on https://allnurses.com/forums/1458776-post6.html.

the table, which i attached back in january of 2006, will tell you more information about d5½ns and other iv solutions.

you can see a list of the different iv solutions classified as to hypertonic, isotonic or hypotonic on this post:

https://allnurses.com/forums/2279411-post2.html

fyi. . .there is only one hypotonic iv solution. it is ½ns (0.45% sodium chloride).

IVRUS, BSN, RN · Sep 11, 2008

Is D5W with 0.45% NS hypotonic, isotonic, or hypertonic?

D51/2NS is hypertonic. You have two combined osmolarities... Dextrose and 0.45 Sodium Chloride with a combined osmolarity of 406.

Remember that solutions that have an osmolarity of 240-340 are isotonic.

> 340 = Hypertonic

Also, know that D5W is isotonic, but in the bag only. In the body it acts like a hypotonic fluid as the dextrose is quickly metabolized and all you are left with is free water.

DD

mama_d, BSN, RN · Sep 11, 2008

I'm embarassed to admit it, but that question managed to throw me. Apparently the site I went to (which appeared reputable) to double check my answer in case it was a trick question was misinformed as well. Thanks to others for correcting; learn something new every day!