To mix or not to mix – compatibilities of parenteral drug solutions

Abstract

many injectable drugs cannot be mixed together in syringes or infusions. Some cannot be safely diluted in infusion bags. Incompatibility can involve precipitation, ionic reactions, evolution of gas and denaturation of biological molecules. Knowledge of drug compatibility is needed before mixing drugs. Reference texts can provide information, but data are often unavailable for new drugs. If drugs are mixed together, the mixture should be inspected for precipitates, turbidity or changes in colour, however not all incompatibilities are visible.