Common IV Solutions: Indications, Precautions, and Incompatibilities

Solution/type Indications Precautions incompatibilities

D5W
Hypotonic
Replace water and low calorie needs
Dehydration
Hyperkalemia
Spares body protein; provides nutrition
Do not use in head trauma, early postoperative
patients, or in patients with
fluid overload (CHF)
Contraindicated with diabetes
Whole blood Fat Emulsions
Ampicillin Sodium bicarbonate
Erythromycin Dilantin
Warfarin B12
0.9% Saline
Isotonic
Replace ECF IV irrigation
Hyponatremia Hypochloremia
Water overload Medication diluent
Mild metabolic acidosis
Compatible with blood
Does not contain any free water or calories
Can cause fluid overload, hypokalemia,
hypernatremia, hyperchloremic acidosis
Use caution with renal or circulatory
impairment, older adults, and those with
sodium retention
Amphotericin B Warfarin
Mannitol Whole blood
Diazepam Ampicillin
Fat emulsions Erythromycin
Chlordiazepoxide
Methylprednisolone
D5/0.45 NS
Hypertonic
Rehydrate; has free water, salt, and
calories
Use caution with CHF, pulmonary edema,
urinary obstruction, steroid therapy
May falsely BUN
Contraindicated in diabetic coma
Amphotericin
Mannitol
Diazepam
Ringers
Isotonic
Replacement of fluid and electrolytes
(dehydration, vomiting, diarrhea, burns)
Volume expander
Contains no calories
Do not use with CHF, renal insufficiency, or
sodium retention
Not enough potassium or calcium
to be used as maintenance fluid
Ampicillin Potassium
Cefamandole Phosphate
Diazepam Sodium bicarbonate
Erythromycin Whole blood
Methicillin
Lactated Ringers
Isotonic
Resembles blood serum
No free water
Rehydration
Burns, dehydration, Diabetic
ketoacidosis, salicylate overdose
Can cause hyperkalemia, hypernatremia
Can exacerbate CHF, edema, and Na
retention
Contraindicated with liver disease, Addisons disease,
severe metabolic acidosis
& alkalosis, profound hypovolemia & hyperkalemia
Ampicillin
Cefamandole
Diazepam
Erythromycin
Phosphate
Sodium bicarbonate
Common IV Solutions: Indications, Precautions, and Incompatibilities
Solution/type Indications Precautions incompatibilities
D5W
Hypotonic
Replace water and low calorie needs
Dehydration
Hyperkalemia
Spares body protein; provides nutrition
Do not use in head trauma, early postoperative
patients, or in patients with
fluid overload (CHF)
Contraindicated with diabetes
Whole blood Fat Emulsions
Ampicillin Sodium bicarbonate
Erythromycin Dilantin
Warfarin B12
0.9% Saline
Isotonic
Replace ECF IV irrigation
Hyponatremia Hypochloremia
Water overload Medication diluent
Mild metabolic acidosis
Compatible with blood
Does not contain any free water or calories
Can cause fluid overload, hypokalemia,
hypernatremia, hyperchloremic acidosis
Use caution with renal or circulatory
impairment, older adults, and those with
sodium retention
Amphotericin B Warfarin
Mannitol Whole blood
Diazepam Ampicillin
Fat emulsions Erythromycin
Chlordiazepoxide
Methylprednisolone
D5/0.45 NS
Hypertonic
Rehydrate; has free water, salt, and
calories
Use caution with CHF, pulmonary edema,
urinary obstruction, steroid therapy
May falsely BUN
Contraindicated in diabetic coma
Amphotericin
Mannitol
Diazepam
Ringers
Isotonic
Replacement of fluid and electrolytes
(dehydration, vomiting, diarrhea, burns)
Volume expander
Contains no calories
Do not use with CHF, renal insufficiency, or
sodium retention
Not enough potassium or calcium
to be used as maintenance fluid
Ampicillin Potassium
Cefamandole Phosphate
Diazepam Sodium bicarbonate
Erythromycin Whole blood
Methicillin
Lactated Ringers
Isotonic
Resembles blood serum
No free water
Rehydration
Burns, dehydration, Diabetic
ketoacidosis, salicylate overdose
Can cause hyperkalemia, hypernatremia
Can exacerbate CHF, edema, and Na
retention
Contraindicated with liver disease, Addisons disease,
severe metabolic acidosis
& alkalosis, profound hypovolemia & hyperkalemia
Ampicillin
Cefamandole
Diazepam
Erythromycin
Phosphate
Sodium bicarbonate
Common IV Solutions: Indications, Precautions, and Incompatibilities
Solution/type Indications Precautions incompatibilities
D5W
Hypotonic
Replace water and low calorie needs
Dehydration
Hyperkalemia
Spares body protein; provides nutrition
Do not use in head trauma, early postoperative
patients, or in patients with
fluid overload (CHF)
Contraindicated with diabetes
Whole blood Fat Emulsions
Ampicillin Sodium bicarbonate
Erythromycin Dilantin
Warfarin B12
0.9% Saline
Isotonic
Replace ECF IV irrigation
Hyponatremia Hypochloremia
Water overload Medication diluent
Mild metabolic acidosis
Compatible with blood
Does not contain any free water or calories
Can cause fluid overload, hypokalemia,
hypernatremia, hyperchloremic acidosis
Use caution with renal or circulatory
impairment, older adults, and those with
sodium retention
Amphotericin B Warfarin
Mannitol Whole blood
Diazepam Ampicillin
Fat emulsions Erythromycin
Chlordiazepoxide
Methylprednisolone
D5/0.45 NS
Hypertonic
Rehydrate; has free water, salt, and
calories
Use caution with CHF, pulmonary edema,
urinary obstruction, steroid therapy
May falsely BUN
Contraindicated in diabetic coma
Amphotericin
Mannitol
Diazepam
Ringers
Isotonic
Replacement of fluid and electrolytes
(dehydration, vomiting, diarrhea, burns)
Volume expander
Contains no calories
Do not use with CHF, renal insufficiency, or
sodium retention
Not enough potassium or calcium
to be used as maintenance fluid
Ampicillin Potassium
Cefamandole Phosphate
Diazepam Sodium bicarbonate
Erythromycin Whole blood
Methicillin
Lactated Ringers
Isotonic
Resembles blood serum
No free water
Rehydration
Burns, dehydration, Diabetic
ketoacidosis, salicylate overdose
Can cause hyperkalemia, hypernatremia
Can exacerbate CHF, edema, and Na
retention
Contraindicated with liver disease, Addisons disease,
severe metabolic acidosis
& alkalosis, profound hypovolemia & hyperkalemi a
Ampicillin
Cefamandole
Diazepam
Erythromycin
Phosphate
Sodium bicarbonate