Vehicle for the administration of drugs by IV infusion
Forms and strengths
500 ml and 1000 ml bottles or bags
Composition
5% isotonic glucose solution (50 mg of glucose/ml) for infusion
Contra-indications, adverse effects, precautions
Do not use 5% glucose solution for the administration of: hydralazine (incompatibility, rapid degradation of hydralazine), amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, aciclovir, phenytoin,or bleomycin.
Amoxicillin diluted in 5% glucose must be administered in less than one hour. If infusion over more than one hour is required, use 0.9% sodium chloride.
Remarks
This solution does not contain electrolytes or lactate. Its use is not recommended for the IV treatment of dehydration. Use Ringer lactate or 0.9% sodium chloride solutions.
Low nutritional value: 200 kcal/litre.
Also comes in a premixed solution of 5% glucose/Ringer lactate, which is the preferred infusion solution for maintenance fluids in children.