Faculty Articles
PubMed Identifier
19558009
Long-term stability of epinephrine dispensed in unsealed syringes for the first-aid treatment of anaphylaxis
Publication Title
Annals of allergy, asthma & immunology : official publication of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology
Volume
102
Issue
6
Publication Date / Copyright Date
6-1-2009
First Page
500
Last Page
503
Publisher
American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology
DOI Number
10.1016/S1081-1206(10)60124-X
Abstract
BACKGROUND: When epinephrine autoinjectors are unavailable or unaffordable, patients at risk for anaphylaxis in the community are sometimes provided with an unsealed syringe containing a premeasured epinephrine dose for use in first-aid treatment of anaphylaxis episodes.
OBJECTIVES: To study the stability of epinephrine solution in unsealed syringes under conditions of high ambient temperature, low vs high humidity, and light vs dark.
METHODS: Forty unsealed syringes each containing an epinephrine dose of 0.3 mg (as a 1-mg/mL epinephrine solution) were stored at 38 degrees C for 5 months, with 10 syringes at each of 4 different standardized storage conditions: dark and light at low (15%) humidity and dark and light at high (95%) humidity. Duplicate syringes were removed monthly from each storage environment and analyzed for epinephrine content vs control syringes.
RESULTS: The epinephrine dose, expressed as the percentage remaining of the mean control dose, was below compendial limits (90% to 115% of label claim) by 3 months after storage at 38 degrees C and low humidity and by 4 months after storage at 38 degrees C and high humidity. Light had no significant effect.
CONCLUSION: In hot climates, if an unsealed syringe prefilled with an epinephrine dose is provided for the first-aid treatment of anaphylaxis, it should be replaced every few months on a regular basis with a new syringe containing a fresh dose of epinephrine.
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences | Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Keywords
Adrenergic Agonists, Anaphylaxis, Drug Stability, Drug Storage, Epinephrine, First Aid, Hot Temperature, Humans, Humidity, Light, Solutions, Syringes, Time Factors
NSUWorks Citation
Rawas-Qalaji, Mutasem; Simons, F Estelle R; Collins, David; and Simons, Keith J, "Long-term stability of epinephrine dispensed in unsealed syringes for the first-aid treatment of anaphylaxis" (2009). Faculty Articles. 124.
https://nsuworks.nova.edu/hpd_corx_facarticles/124
