UMEM Educational Pearls

Category: Pharmacology & Therapeutics

Title: Sodium Content of Emergency Department Antibiotics

Keywords: sodium, piperacillin/tazobactam, ampicillin, moxifloxacin, metronidazole (PubMed Search)

Posted: 4/13/2015 by Bryan Hayes, PharmD (Emailed: 5/2/2015) (Updated: 5/2/2015)
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Aside from sodium chloride and sodium bicarbonate, several commonly used emergency department medications (namely IV antibiotics) contain a significant amount of sodium. In patients with heart failure or other conditions requiring sodium restriction, judicious use should be considered.

Notes:

Available references all quote slightly differing sodum contents. Therefore, the daily totals are approximate, but within 100 mg of the various references.
To convert mg to mEq or mmoL, divide by 23.

References

Ampicillin/sulbactam [package insert]. Metronidazole [package insert]. Moxifloxacin [package insert]. Nafcillin [package insert]. Piperacillin/tazobactam [package insert]. Ticarcillin/clavulanate [package insert].

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