STABILITY OF CEFODIZIME IN SOLUTION AND COMPATIBILITY WITH OTHER INJECTABLE DRUGS

The stability of cefodizime in five intravenous infusion fluids (0.9% sodium chloride, 5% dextrose in water, 10% dextrose in water, 5% amino acid injection, 3% polygeline) was studied at room temperature and at 4-degrees-C. The compatibility of cefodizime with commonly used injec table drugs (ranitidine, metoclopramide, folinic acid, furosemide, ami nophilline, methylprednisolone, betamethasone, hydrocortisone, dexamet hasone, ketoprofen, normaidopyrine, acetylcysteine, digoxin, diazepam, acetylsalicylic acid, chlorpromazine, clonidine, clomipramine) was st udied in 0.9% sodium chloride and 5% dextrose at room temperature. At intervals during the storage periods (up to 24 hrs at room temperature ; up to 6 days at 4-degrees-C) color, clarity and solution pH were exa mined; cefodizime content was determined by a microbiological method. Cefodizime concentrations remained greater than 90% of the initial con centrations in all infusion fluids for at least 24 hrs at room tempera ture and 6 days at 4-degrees-C. No visual changes or appreciable chang es in pH were observed for any of the solutions. Immediate clouding wa s observed when chlorpromazine was combined with the solution of cefod izime. A color change was observed when acetylcysteine was mixed with cefodizime. An increase in pH was noted when aminophilline was added t o the solution of cefodizime. However, cefodizime concentrations remai ned greater than 90% of the initial concentrations of the solutions af ter mixture with all the tested drugs for at least 24 hrs at room temp erature. We conclude that, under the conditions of this study, cefodiz ime sodium 4 mg/ml is stable for at least 24 hours at room temperature and for at least 6 days at 4-degrees-C in all infusion fluids tested, and the numerous injectable agents did not affect cefodizime concentr ations when admixed in 0.9% sodium chloride or 5% dextrose in water fo r 24 hours at room temperature.