IV Dex for PO Dex?

[stayseerrn]

I have started working in a new hospital that uses IV dexamethasone when it is ordered po for pediatric patients that cannot swallow pills. You draw the prescribed amount out of the vial that is ordered and mix it with cherry syrup. This is what is traditional practice instead of crushing the pills and dissolving them in cherry syrup. The argument is that when the pills are crushed, you lose some of the medication, so using the IV dex is a more accurate means of giving the desired dose.

So, has anyone else ever heard of this practice? Does anyone have any resources regarding the efficacy and safety of this practice? Plus what about the taste? Does this produce more or less of a "vomit factor" than when giving prednisolone or crushed dexamethasone tablets?

[PedsER-RN, BSN, RN]

we do this alot. we usually mix it with sweet-ease.