title: Stability of ondansetron hydrochloride and 12 medications in plastic syringes.
abstract: The stability and compatibility of ondansetron hydrochloride with neostigmine methylsulfate, naloxone hydrochloride, midazolam hydrochloride, fentanyl citrate, alfentanil hydrochloride, atropine sulfate, morphine sulfate, meperidine hydrochloride, propofol, droperidol, metoclopramide monohydrochloride, and glycopyrrolate were studied. Ondansetron 1.33 or 1.0 mg/mL was combined with 0.9% sodium chloride injection and each of the 12 drugs in duplicate in plastic syringes (or glass for propofol). The syringes were stored at 21.8-23.4 or 4 degrees C in the dark, except for those containing propofol, which were stored at ambient temperature. Samples were removed at 0, 4, 8, and 24 hours for analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography and pH measurement; the propofol-containing samples were removed at 0, 1, 2, and 4 hours. Syringes were visually assessed for color and clarity, and particulate content was measured with a particle counter at the end of the study period. All solutions containing ondansetron retained more than 90% of their initial ondansetron concentration. Solutions containing each of the other drugs except droperidol retained more than 90% of their initial concentration of these drugs. The solutions containing droperidol retained more than 90% of their initial droperidol concentration for up to eight hours at ambient temperature but precipitated quickly at 4 degrees C. In combinations of ondansetron 1.33 or 1.0 mg/mL and 10 of 12 drugs, all drugs were stable for 24 hours in plastic syringes at 23 and 4 degrees C; ondansetron hydrochloride 1.0 mg/mL and propofol 1.0 and 5.0 mg/mL in admixtures were stable for 4 hours, and droperidol on its own and combined with ondansetron 1.0 mg/mL was stable for no more than 8 hours at ambient temperature.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia, Athens 30602-2352, USA. jstewart@rx.uga.edu
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: F W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Warren
authors.forename: D T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: T G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Venkateshwaran
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Fox
mesh_terms: D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004344:Drug Incompatibility; D004355:Drug Stability; D017294:Ondansetron / Q000737:chemistry*; D010969:Plastics / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013594:Syringes; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D010969:Plastics; D017294:Ondansetron