title: Storage of lorazepam in three injectable solutions in polyvinyl chloride and polyolefin bags.
abstract: The stability of lorazepam 0.1 mg/mL in three intravenous infusion solutions in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyolefin bags at 37, 24, 4, and -20 degrees C was evaluated over seven days of storage. Triplicate test solutions of lorazepam 0.1 mg/mL in 50-mL PVC bags and 50-mL polyolefin bags containing 0.9% sodium chloride injection, 5% dextrose injection, and lactated Ringer's injection were prepared and stored at 37, 24, and 4 degrees C. Samples were removed initially and at various times over seven days and analyzed for lorazepam content. In addition, lorazepam 0.1 mg/mL in 5% dextrose injection in polyolefin bags was stored at -20 degrees C and samples were removed initially and after seven days and analyzed for lorazepam content. The rate of lorazepam sorptive loss to PVC bags was evaluated with lorazepam 0.1 mg/mL in 5% dextrose injection in PVC bags and stored at 24 degrees C. Samples were removed initially and after two, four, six, and eight hours. High-performance liquid chromatography was performed in duplicate on each sample for lorazepam quantitation. Rapid loss of lorazepam occurred in all samples stored in PVC bags. After seven days at 4 degrees C, 8-9% was lost from 0.9% sodium chloride injection and 5% dextrose injection. At 24 degrees C, 17% was lost in 24 hours; at 37 degrees C, 27-29% was lost in 24 hours. About 10% of the lorazepam was lost from the lactated Ringer's solution in PVC bags after three days at 4 degrees C; 25% was lost in 24 hours at 24 degrees C; and 25% was lost in eight hours at 37 degrees C.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Investigational Pharmaceutical Services, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center (UTMDACC), Houston 77030.
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Trissel
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Pearson
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D004349:Drug Packaging; D004355:Drug Stability; D004356:Drug Storage; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D007552:Isotonic Solutions; D008140:Lorazepam / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D010969:Plastics; D011090:Polyenes; D011143:Polyvinyl Chloride; D000077331:Ringer's Solution; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D012996:Solutions
chemical_list: D007552:Isotonic Solutions; D010969:Plastics; D011090:Polyenes; D012996:Solutions; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D000077331:Ringer's Solution; C035051:PL 732; D011143:Polyvinyl Chloride; D008140:Lorazepam