IV forms of Zofran and Decadron given PO???

[GleeGum]

Have any of you ever heard or worked in an ER where they gave the IV/IM form of Zofran or Decadron PO instead?

[emergency_love]

PO Decadron tastes DISGUSTING. I mean, I gag just smelling it. I always request to give the IV version PO, especially with children. It's our preferred method in peds in our ED.

With sublingual zofran around, I've never given IV zofran PO. Although it would be fine as well - from what I understand they used to do that back before PO zofran was available.

[Rnmuzic77]

Only ER nurses do this. Yes we give iv Decadron and Zofran po. Ive been a nurse almost 18 years and did not know this until I worked ER. About 3 years. I had to question it and look it up . It's an ER thing only lol. Don't expect any other nurses to understand lol. Lol.

[Guest374845]

I had a pt who was allergic to one of the inactive ingredients in ODT zofran, that was the only time I've given IV zofran PO. Decadron, on the other hand, I give PO all the time. I was actually surprised to find out recently that it came as a tablet.

[Aphexrex1]

Zofran in odt tab form but not IV. Especially in pediatrics.

[TheSquire, DNP, APRN, NP]

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.

With the actual real little ones, they still have the rooting and suckling reflexes in place - they'll make a face when you give them half the dose, then dutifully take the rest of it again.

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.

I get super upset whenever anyone tells a child that medicine is candy - that's how later poisonings happen

[LilgirlRN, ADN, RN]

Have done IV Zofran PO when there was abug going around and we were out of the PO version. Tasted bad but worked.