Specialties Emergency
Published Feb 21, 2010
Have any of you ever heard or worked in an ER where they gave the IV/IM form of Zofran or Decadron PO instead?
traumajunkie63
19 Posts
yep sure have...we do it all the time and it works...as for the zofran we use the ODT alot...crazy as it sounds....i was told welcome to the new nursing...lol
Lunah, MSN, RN
14 Articles; 13,767 Posts
Our Zofran ODTs only come stocked in 8 mg, so for kiddos where we're giving 2 mg, I always use the IV Zofran mixed with some cherry syrup for PO administration. Yum. Hahaha.
We were out of IV Zofran for a while, too. Now we're good, but running out of Toradol again...
ernurse13
1 Post
We use them both all the time. With the ODT, it is next to impossible on most kiddos to get the 0.1 mg/kg dose correect, with the IV form you just pull up the little bit you need and squirt into mouth, no waiting to ensure that it dissolves. It is usually such a small amount the the kids won't spit it out, then just chase with some liquid.
brainkandy87
321 Posts
Now we're good, but running out of Toradol again...
Yeah, samesies. And our 60 mg is IM only. Anyone know why that is?
Our 60 mg vials said the same -- IM only -- though our pharmacy confirmed that it was IV-able as well.
SMARN
32 Posts
I have never given the 60mg IV, and wouldn't. And when we were out of the 30mg vials, we were told not to take the 60s and give half. According to the manufacturer there is a reason for this, our pharmacy didn't know specifics. But I'm not taking the chance on causing kidney damage.
I've never heard of giving the IV decadron and IV zofran as PO; never had it ordered that way. We have the PO versions of both, fortunately, but will keep this info handy just in case!
LocNurse
8 Posts
Yes I have given zofran given PO and zofran ODT (Orally Disintegrating Tablet).
MassED, BSN, RN
2,636 Posts
Yes for IV Decadron given PO, you just add a sweetener to it.
nuangel1, BSN, RN
707 Posts
we use the iv decadron and give it po.we have po and iv doses of zofran.but the shortages of meds is painful in the last year fro us it was propofol,morhine now ,reglan and zofran also .the list gets longer and longer.
on_the_move
4 Posts
I've given IV decadron PO countless times to peds pts. I've never seen a PO form of it and usually with peds we try PO if they're stable enough to take it (mixed with juice, it tastes horrible alone). Decadron is used over prednisolone because it's more potent.
As far as Zofran, I've never given IV preparations PO. But again, with peds I would sometimes have to melt an ODT in water and give it to the pt through a syringe. Maybe some places just use the IV preparation instead...
~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN
5,259 Posts
Never heard of IV form of Zofran given PO (why not just give Zofran ODT?) but we give IV Decadron PO all the time. I think I have only given it to kiddos that way.
Gave 6 mg IV in a cup of apple juice tonight. A whole cup of juice with 1.5 ml of Decadron mixed in and she still said it tasted like crap. Woe is PO Decadron.