The Stability of Drugs Commonly Used in Intensive Care Units Co-Administered via Feeding Tube and Its Dependence on pH: An in vitro Study.

UNLABELLED: <p>

Introduction

The administration of medication through feeding tubes (FTs) represents a critical aspect of routine nursing practice. Although guidelines recommend the separate administration of medications to minimize potential interactions, it is common practice in the clinical settings for medications to be combined and administered simultaneously. Since there is a lack of data on this topic, this study assesses the stability of drugs crushed and mixed in water solution concurrently for administration through FT.

METHODS

The drug compatibility was evaluated in vitro by monitoring the changes in drug content in water solution over time and identifying potential degradation products using a high-performance liquid chromatography system.

RESULTS

The majority of drugs (acetylsalicylic acid, clopidogrel, atorvastatin, furosemide, and prasugrel) maintained their stability during the entire preparation process. The only medication that showed degradation over time was pantoprazole (especially when combined with acetylsalicylic acid and clopidogrel), which was attributed to the acidic environment. The remaining drugs (acetylsalicylic acid, clopidogrel, atorvastatin, furosemide, and prasugrel) maintained their stability during the entire preparation process.

CONCLUSION

This study proves that most drugs can be prepared and administered simultaneously, with the exception of acid-labile drugs, which undergo significant degradation in acidic solutions. </p>.