title: The compatibility of nicardipine hydrochloride injection with various ICU medications during simulated Y-site injection.
abstract: Physical incompatibility studies between an intravenous calcium channel antagonist, nicardipine hydrochloride, and potentially coadministerable ICU medications have been performed. Forty-one medications and four solutions were evaluated. The medications were anesthetic/narcotics, antibiotics, an anticoagulant, a bronchodilator, electrolyte solutions, fluids, H2 receptor blocking agents, steroids and vasoactive agents. Of the forty-five substances, three showed evidence of physical incompatibility as manifested by turbidity, precipitation, or color change. All three were antibiotics. These were ampicillin, ampicillin/sulbactam sodium, and cefoperazone. We conclude that until bioavailability studies are performed these three antibiotics should not be coadministered with nicardipine HCl.
authors.affiliation: Surgical Intensive Care Unit, Bronx VA Medical Center, NY 10468.
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Halpern
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Colucci
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alicea
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Greenstein
mesh_terms: D000667:Ampicillin / Q000032:analysis; D002438:Cefoperazone / Q000032:analysis; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D004344:Drug Incompatibility; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D009529:Nicardipine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis*; D013407:Sulbactam / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000667:Ampicillin; D002438:Cefoperazone; D009529:Nicardipine; D013407:Sulbactam