Vol.62 No.3 May 2014
Tolerability of 2 mg/mL administration of azithromycin in Japanese patients
1)Department of Pharmacy, Kanto Rosai Hospital, 1-1 Kizukisumiyoshi-cho, Nakahara-ku, Kanagawa, Japan
2)Department of Infection Control, Kanto Rosai Hospital
Abstract
In Japan, azithromycin (AZM) must be administered at a dilution of 1 mg/mL according to the package insert to prevent peripheral phlebitis. On the other hand, a dilution of 2 mg/mL of AZM administration has been approved in the United States. The administration of AZM at a dilution of 1 mg/mL needs 500 mL solvent, which could lead to the risk of excessive volume for patients with a fluid overload state. Thus, we evaluated the safety and tolerability of 2 mg/mL of AZM in 2 hrs.
Twenty-one cases were received AZM. We evaluated the tolerability based on a scoring system. Nineteen cases tolerated the dosage well, one had phlebitis findings, and one was excluded because of the drip leakage. Patient risk factors were not related to the tolerability. This study has several limitations, but based on the results it is possible that the tolerability of 2 mg/mL administration of AZM could be expected in Japan.
Key word
azithromycin, high concentration solution, peripheral injection, safety
Received
August 15, 2013
Accepted
February 18, 2014
Jpn. J. Chemother. 62 (3): 382-384, 2014
