dilantin

[bigmona]

Just curious how you give IV dilantin in your facility? The drug guide I looked in says you can administer 50 mg IV push over 2-4 mins and that you need a filter if you're going to infuse it. The vials themselves say "for IV (No Infusion) or IM use". However, when asking around at work, everyone says they just spike the dilantin into a small bag of saline and run it over half an hour to an hour. No filtered line. What do you do?

[mamalle]

we normally give a gram in the er with 500NS on a pump and usually over a hour. honestly we dont use it as much anymore. We normally use Cerebyx- can run it faster and with less fluid..

[GrnHonu99, RN]

We give dilantin all the time. We push it on my floor. Hardly ever do I see a nurse infuse it, unless it is a large dose or a drip, which i have seen. I use whatever port I have, however, I flush before, dilute and flush after since dilantin doesnt mix w/anything. If I give it down the tube, I flush before a nd after as well.

[ecat81]

Just remember Cerebyx can be given 150/min but slower for women b/c it will cause outrageous lady partsl itching. And also on anyone if going to fast can cause vomiting;).

[bellarn75]

I dilute it and push over 2-3 mins.

[bellarn75]

I forgot to mention that my dose is usually 100 mgs only.

[my bedroom]

Just curious how you give IV dilantin in your facility? do you mix it with NS in mini bag?

if you want to give this drug by push in PICC line , with how much NS do you dilute it first ?

[Fiona59]

Can honestly say I've never seen it on our unit. Are you in ICU?

There are a couple of places on the web that have Canadian hospital monographs for it.

Have you checked with your pharmacy?

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

As well as checking with the pharmacy there should be information with the medication with instructions. If unsure do not give until sorted.

[NotReady4PrimeTime, RN]

I've merged two virtually identical threads into one. I think my bedroom will find her answers here...

[CanNurse06]

In the ER where I work we give Phenytoin 1g in 250cc NS over 1hr with an in-line filter/IV pump as a loading dose.

[iluvivt, BSN, RN]

Just wanted to add some info even though this thread is a tad old. Tpa can not reverse a precipitate Tpa will only work on occluded lines from blood or fibrin and if you precipitate with dilantin it is difficult to fix the line. Dilantin can be given IV push or in a mini bag depending upon the dosage and pt situation. If you hang it in a mini bag you must add a.22 micron filter as it can come out of solution over time and precipitate. If you give it push the max rate is 50 mg over a minute. I personally add several minutes to this as I too have seen cardiac problems..mostly bradycardia.....It is very important to make sure site is asymptomatic and we flush with 10 ml NS give the Dilantin then flush with another 10ml slow NS flush. On peripheral sites I like to give it push and watch the site at all times. Dilantin has a ph of 12 and thus is very alkaline so you can see that it can cause severe tissue damage if extravasated.

[topgungirl27]

I know this post is from Jan, but i just had this given to me for a seizure and I died itching...they said I had an allergic reaction...or is the itchting normal? I was dying with the scratching while the nurse was doing my EKG, I couldn't stand still for anything!!!