Help me understand an Ampule

sailornurse · Jun 29, 2016

Ampules are tamperproof. Some medications in contact with rubber stoppers or plastic can be absorbed by the materials so glass is better. What medication are you getting your mom and why is she not receiving it the office of her provider? And when you invert an ampule the medication will not fall out. One reason for inverting it is so the tip of the filter needle is at the end of the opening so that you get every drop out of the Ampule. In case there were no filter needles if you don't invert it and just place your needle inside at the bottom you could bend the tip if it hits the bottom of the ampule.

Lev, MSN, RN, NP · Jun 29, 2016

i don't invert ampules to draw up the med. I also use a couple alcohol wipes (still in the wrapping) to break the ampule. Break away from you but not in someone's face..

allnurses Guide · Jun 29, 2016

i don't invert ampules to draw up the med. I also use a couple alcohol wipes (still in the wrapping) to break the ampule. Break away from you but not in someone's face..

That's how I do it too. I'm not sure about sailor nurse's post

And when you invert an ampule the medication will not fall out. One reason for inverting it is so the tip of the filter needle is at the end of the opening so that you get every drop out of the Ampule. In case there were no filter needles if you don't invert it and just place your needle inside at the bottom you could bend the tip if it hits the bottom of the ampule.

. . . if you break open an ampule and invert it, all the med spills out.

I'm confused. :confused:

MunoRN, RN · Jun 29, 2016

Drugs that contain unstable chemicals often require glass ampules because the rubber cap of a vial with interact with the chemicals in the drug. Some chemicals are best stored hermetically (completely airtight) and while vials are generally considered 'sealed', they aren't truly hermetic.

I break the vial at it's neck with an alcohol swab or two, then draw it up using a filter needle.

ParvulusPuella · Jun 29, 2016

That's how I do it too. I'm not sure about sailor nurse's post
. . . if you break open an ampule and invert it, all the med spills out.
I'm confused.

I've never had the medication spill when inverting an ampule, surface tension keeps it from leaking out. You just wouldn't inject air into the inverted ampule like you do with stoppered vials. You also want to be sure not totouch the needle to the rim of the ampule, because that can also cause the medication to dribble.

allnurses Guide · Jun 29, 2016

Drugs that contain unstable chemicals often require glass ampules because the rubber cap of a vial with interact with the chemicals in the drug. Some chemicals are best stored hermetically (completely airtight) and while vials are generally considered 'sealed', they aren't truly hermetic.
I break the vial at it's neck with an alcohol swab or two, then draw it up using a filter needle.

This is the right answer. And that's how I draw up meds from an ampule as well.

I've never had the medication spill when inverting an ampule, surface tension keeps it from leaking out. You just wouldn't inject air into the inverted ampule like you do with stoppered vials. You also want to be sure not totouch the needle to the rim of the ampule, because that can also cause the medication to dribble.

Well, I'll be darn. I googled this and found a video and it had two ways to draw up medication. One was the way I was taught and have always done it - with the ampule sitting upright. The other said you can invert it and draw the medication that way as well. I would have thought the medication would have simply spilled out if you inverted it.

http://pharamceuticals.wonderhowto.com/how-to/drawing-from-glass-ampule-235265/

meanmaryjean, DNP, RN · Jun 29, 2016

Back in the Dark Ages (when I was a new nurse) a metric butt ton of meds came in ampules. Hated them then, hate them now.

That said- they ARE tamperproof.

Jensmom7, BSN, RN · Jun 29, 2016

Back in the Dark Ages (when I was a new nurse) a metric butt ton of meds came in ampules. Hated them then, hate them now.
That said- they ARE tamperproof.

Same here, but I did think it was kind of cool that you could invert it and nothing spilled.

Most of us made the mistake of injecting air from habit when using an ampule the first time. I guarantee you that was a mistake we made only once lol.

meanmaryjean, DNP, RN · Jun 29, 2016

Same here, but I did think it was kind of cool that you could invert it and nothing spilled.
Most of us made the mistake of injecting air from habit when using an ampule the first time. I guarantee you that was a mistake we made only once lol.

There IS the cool factor....

Julius Seizure · Jun 29, 2016

Dont forget to flick the medication out of the tip and down into the bottom of the ampule (if it isnt already) before breaking it! I recently broke open a dilaudid ampule and was confused to find it empty.....all of the medication had been sitting in the top that I had broken off :cautious:

BTW, another reason ampules are sometimes used over vials: cheaper and faster to sterilize in batches for the manufacturer.

NotAllWhoWandeRN, ASN, RN · Jun 30, 2016

Back in the Dark Ages (when I was a new nurse) a metric butt ton of meds came in ampules. Hated them then, hate them now.
That said- they ARE tamperproof.

I once pulled a phenergan ampule that ended up not being used, and slipped it into my pocket, where I promptly crushed it against a bed rail while repositioning a patient. I smelled like a chemical factory and I had a pocket full of glass. It was not fun.

All the important info has been covered, so I'm just spreading the hate :inlove:

I'm in the "don't invert" crowd.