I just started working at an inpatient psych facility and naturally have had to give IM Ativan several times now. Since the medication is so viscous I want to know how it is appropriate to dilute it. Looking in several different drug reference guides there is no clear and concise answer on if/how this should be done and talking to other nurses that I work with everyone seems to do it their own way.
We don't dilute, unless you count haldol ;-) I always use an 18 gauge to draw it up, then I switch to a 20 or 22 to inject. It's hard to push through a 22, but done slowly it works and stays injected!
I was taught to draw a B52 STAT - I draw Haldol 1st, mix into the Ativan to dilute & then draw the Benadryl last. I use an 18G to draw (helps it to go quicker) & change to a 22G to administer IM. I always count to at least 10 before I withdraw needle & have never gotten it back at me. I don't dilute a regular Ativan - I draw with that 18G - change to the 22G - don't administer any smaller than 22G - it's a hard push & you'll never get it in quick enough.
From the manufacturer leaflet: "Intramuscular administration:A 1:1 dilution of Ativan Injection with normal saline or Sterile Water for InjectionBP is recommended in order to facilitate intramuscular administration."
302queen
47 Posts
we do not use dilution when we give it where i work. our docs use geodon a lot too so it is two injections