title: Physical and chemical compatibility of injectable acetaminophen during simulated y-site administration.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The physical and chemical compatibility of intravenous acetaminophen with commonly administered injectable medications was evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Simulated Y-site evaluation was accomplished by mixing 2 mL of acetaminophen (10 mg/mL) with 2 mL of an alternative intravenous medication and subsequently storing the mixture in a polypropylene syringe for 4 hours. The aliquot solutions were visually inspected and evaluated for crystal content at 4 hours by infusing 4 mL of the medication mixture through a 0.45-μm nitrocellulose filter disc. Medication mixtures that were selected for chemical stability testing were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography at 0, 1, and 4 hours using a Zorbax Eclipse Plus C18, 4.6 x 100 mm, 3.5-μm column for separation of analytes with subsequent diode-array detection. Medications were considered chemically compatible if the concentrations of all components were >90% of the original concentrations during the 4 hour simulated Y-site compatibility test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention (USP) standards for physical particle counts were met for acetaminophen injection (10 mg/mL) when combined with cefoxitin, ceftriaxone, clindamycin, dexamethasone, diphenhydramine, dolasetron, fentanyl, granisetron, hydrocortisone, hydromorphone, ketorolac, meperidine, methylprednisolone, midazolam, morphine, nalbuphine, ondansetron, piperacillin/tazobactam, ranitidine, and vancomycin. Injectable acetaminophen is incompatible with acyclovir and diazepam and therefore should not be administered concomitantly with either of these products. Further testing confirmed the chemical compatibility of acetaminophen with ceftriaxone, diphenhydramine, granisetron, ketorolac, nalbuphine, ondansetron, piperacillin/tazobactam, and vancomycin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  All medications tested with acetaminophen were physically compatible except for acyclovir and diazepam. All 8 medications tested for chemical compatibility with acetaminophen were stable over the 4 hour simulated Y-site administration study.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Pharmacist, Primary Children's Hospital;
authors.forename: Collin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Transplant Pharmacist, Pediatric Diabetes, and Educator, Primary Children's Hospital;
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Boehme
authors.affiliation: Clinical Pharmacist, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit/Neuroscience Trauma Unit, Primary Children's Hospital.
authors.forename: Jacquelyn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ouellette
authors.affiliation: Pharmacy Team Lead, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit/Neuroscience Trauma Unit, Primary Children's Hospital;
authors.forename: Chanelle
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stidham
authors.affiliation: Clinical Manager and Nutrition Support Coordinator, Primary Children's Hospital, Salt Lake City, Utah. Corresponding author: Collin Anderson, Primary Children's Hospital, Department of Pharmacy, 100 Mario Capecchi Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84113; phone: 801-662-2657; e-mail: collin.anderson@imail.org.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mackay
keywords: Y-site; acetaminophen; compatibility; intravenous