Oxytocin-Life

radioactivern · May 28, 2011

I was always taught that it was good for only 24 hours once the bag was spiked and hung

Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP · May 28, 2011

You might want to check with your hospital's pharmacy. We have premixed bags that we keep in the pyxis of 20u/1000ml D5LR. I can't remember off the top of my head how long they are good but they are stable in a closed bag at room temp for a good while, IIRC. Spiked and hung is a different story.

casiandra · May 28, 2011

I work in pharmacy and they are good for 24 hrs only

DeeAngel · May 28, 2011

Why don't you ask the pharmacist where you work?

klone, MSN, RN · May 28, 2011

We keep premixed (by pharmacy) bags in our Pyxis (30 in 500, which makes a 1:1 ratio which is really nice). Pharmacy doesn't mix them individually and send them to us as needed. These bags might be in our Pyxis for several days. So based on that, it's definitely more than 24 hours as another poster stated.

babyktchr, BSN, RN · May 28, 2011

It is one thing to live in a pyxis, they do have expirations listed on the bag. Once spiked, the bag is only good for 24 hours. Every bag of medication has an expiration date listed on it.

klone, MSN, RN · May 28, 2011

It is one thing to live in a pyxis, they do have expirations listed on the bag. Once spiked, the bag is only good for 24 hours. Every bag of medication has an expiration date listed on it.

I got the impression the OP was asking about after mixed, not after spiked.

OBRN4U · May 29, 2011

Thanks for the respondes everyone. I should have been clearer about my question. I was asking how long does pitocin last once mixed and not spiked. The reason I asked, We nurses on our unit have noticed, if we hang a bag of pitocin that had been mixed greater than 24 hours for induction, the labor is long and with primigravidas, they may never reach labor. Also with postpartums, if the pitocin was mixed greater than 24 hours, they tend to bleed more. In both cases, once we change the bags to a newly mixed bag we get the results that are expected. We have talked to our pharmacy, but they state, there is no expiration date once its mixed (with the exception from the manufacturer). We even have an OB doctor that agrees with us and he too has searched for literature and was unable to find supporting information. But, we as nurses, see the difference, because we work with the product on a day to day bases. Have any of you guys noticed this as well?

babyktchr, BSN, RN · May 29, 2011

Interesting. I was always taught that if you mix it, it is only good for 24 hours. Even our bags or antibiotics that the pharmacy makes have expirations dates printed on the labels.

Bree124, BSN, RN · May 30, 2011

Our pharmacy used to mix the bags and stock 6-10 in our pyxis, with an expiration date around 72 hours after being mixed. Now we get them premixed from a manufacturer, and they don't expire for several weeks.

rn/writer, RN · May 30, 2011

We keep our mixed (unspiked) pit bags in a med fridge. Have never noticed a difference in their effectiveness. Wonder if refrigeration prolongs the life of the oxytocin.