IV forms of Zofran and Decadron given PO???

Editorial Team / Moderator · May 9, 2012

Never heard of IV form of Zofran given PO (why not just give Zofran ODT?)

We only have 8mg ODT in our medication orificenal, so it's much easier (and way more accurate in dosing) to use the IV liquid for PO administration for those little kiddos where 2mg is ordered.

SMARN · May 10, 2012

So, I asked around my ED to the other nurses if they've ever given IV meds PO. They all kinda looked at me like I was growing horns out if my head, lol. I took that as a no.

I asked our night shift PA if she ever had (she was an EMT, then an RN) - she said she hadn't given it PO, but she has given IV Valium in the rectum for a seizure pt who was a hard stick with no line.

Altra, BSN, RN · May 10, 2012

So, I asked around my ED to the other nurses if they've ever given IV meds PO. They all kinda looked at me like I was growing horns out if my head, lol. I took that as a no.
I asked our night shift PA if she ever had (she was an EMT, then an RN) - she said she hadn't given it PO, but she has given IV Valium in the rectum for a seizure pt who was a hard stick with no line.

I think this misrepresents the original question: OP asked if anyone was familiar with giving certain specific IV meds p.o.

The oral suspension steroids (OraPred, etc.) taste terrible ... much easier to disguise 1mL IV Decadron in a small quantity of apple juice or ginger ale than to undergo the battle of getting a kiddo to tolerate 5-10mL of OraPred.

cardiacqueen · Dec 1, 2014

Yes to decadron. I've also seen iv vancomycin ordered po, just because the po pills are so expensive.

no to zofran-if no iv access why not give IM or the ODT by mouth?

EDRN1091 · Dec 4, 2014

we had a 3 year old who got the IV zofran PO last week for vomiting with fever. worked like a charm.

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BrooklynER · Dec 20, 2014

We give IV decadron and zofran po regularly - an IV isn't always necessary.

KnitWitch, ASN, RN · Dec 25, 2014

In the height of croup season I'm giving IV decadron PO more or less every night. I check with parent/caregiver to make sure the kid likes apple juice, draw up and have my decadron double checked, fill the last of the syringe with apple juice and then down the hatch!

The only time I actually give the decadron IM is when I have a VERY little one who seems prone to just spitting everything out. Sometimes it's just easier to grab a thigh and do the deed than it is to try and ply them with meds disguised in juice.

Interestingly, our pharmacy changed its formulation for oral prednisolone and they actually brought a few syringes worth up to the ED and had a mini tasting party for the staff, so that we could all see that it now tastes... mostly sugary and pretty good (IMO) instead of the old version which tasted like satan's a-hole. So I no longer feel so badly when I have to give a kid the oral prednisolone now, because at least I can say that YES, I HAVE tasted that and it's not so bad.

IV Zofran PO I haven't done, but we have the ODT which tastes kind of like candy and I'm not above convincing kids that I'm giving them a hard candy to suck on instead of a med. We do have liquid zofran in our formulary and accudose, but I don't think I've ever given it.

Lâ™¡vER · Dec 29, 2014

Decadron, yes. Zofran, no. You can bet your hiney I called pharmacy, asked every RN I could find and double checked with the doc first though!

bjaeram · Dec 30, 2014

We do IV decadron all the time in kids. We usually mix it with Tylenol. Makes it taste better and most of the kids have a fever or could use some Tylenol.

elkins6 · Jan 8, 2015

I've given IV Decadron PO, however there is only one physician in our ED that orders it this way. I have never heard of giving IV Zofran PO though.

jessRN0 · Jan 13, 2015

We given IV decadron PO mixed with juice for our peds patients all the time. Our pharmacy actually supplies PO (liquid suspension) Zofran for peds. I have never heard of giving Zofran from an IV vial PO.

WhoniverseNurse · Jan 28, 2015

I've done the IV decadron PO mixed with some apple juice. I looked at the PA a little funny, and then he explained it to me. Worked great! As far as the IV Zofran... we generally just use the ODT. Never heard of giving the IV Vanco PO, though, that's interesting!