UMEM Educational Pearls

Title: Sodium Content of Emergency Department Antibiotics

Category: Pharmacology & Therapeutics

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

Posted: 4/13/2015 by Bryan Hayes, PharmD (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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