CHAPTER 10 RECONSTITUTION OF POWDERED DRUGS 89

CHAPTER 10
Reconstitution of Powdered Drugs

Objectives
The learner will:
1. prepare solutions from powdered drugs using directions printed on vial labels.
2. prepare solutions from powdered drugs using drug literature or inserts.
3. determine the expiration date and time for reconstituted drugs.
4. calculate dosages for reconstituted drugs.

Suggested Review Questions

1. Why are some drugs packaged in powdered form?
2. List the steps used when reconstituting a drug supplied in powdered form.
3. What information needs to be written on the drug label when the drug is a multiple
strength solution?
4. Ask learners this question: You need to administer a drug supplied in powdered form;
however, the type and amount of diluent needed to reconstitute the drug are not noted on
the label. Where would you look for this information?

Answers to Review Questions

1. Drugs that are packaged in powdered form need to be reconstituted prior to administration
because they retain potency only a short time in solution. Stress the importance of reading
labels to determine the amount of time a drug is stable in solution and the need to use that
information when planning for drug administration.
2. The steps for reconstituting a drug supplied in powdered form are
a. Determine the type and volume of diluent needed.
b. Choose the appropriate sterile syringe to use when drawing up the diluent and
injecting it into the medication vial.
c. Use aseptic technique to draw up the specified amount of diluent and inject it into the
medication vial.

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90 SECTION 3 READING MEDICATION LABELS AND SYRINGE CALIBRATIONS

d. Roll the vial in your hands to dissolve all the powder (emphasize not to shake the
vial).
e. Label vial with your initials (the person who did the reconstitution) and the expiration
date and time.
f. Store reconstituted medication according to label directions.
3. The essential information that needs to be written on the label of a multiple solution drug
is the initials of the individual who reconstituted the drug, the dosage strength of the
mixture, and the expiration date and time.
4. When not noted on the drug label, the preparation and stability information for a particular
drug can be found on the package insert.

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 CHAPTER 10 RECONSTITUTION OF POWDERED DRUGS 91

Name ____________________________________________ Date ____________________

Chapter 10: Reconstitution of Powdered Drugs

Additional Practice Problems

Refer to the medication labels below and determine the amount and type of diluent needed
to reconstitute the drug, the amount of reconstituted drug needed to deliver the ordered
dose (calculate to nearest 10th), the correct method for storage of the reconstituted drug,
and the length of time the reconstituted drug will retain potency.

®
1. a. Dose: Solu-Medrol 250 mg _______________

Used with permission from Pfizer

b. Type of diluent _______________

c. Amount of diluent _______________

d. Storage method _______________

e. Will retain potency _______________

Inc.
f. Other special instructions _______________
Used with permission from Bedford Laboratories,
A Division of Ben Venue Laboratories Inc. A

2. a. Dose: cytarabine 150 mg _______________

Boehringer-Ingelheim Company.

b. Type of diluent _______________

c. Amount of diluent _______________

d. Storage method _______________

e. Will retain potency _______________

3. Nafcillin 500 mg has been ordered. Nafcillin is supplied as a powder in a vial. The
directions on the vial label state “reconstitute with 6.6 mL of normal saline. Each mL will
contain 250 mg of nafcillin.” mL needed _______________________

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92 SECTION 3 READING MEDICATION LABELS AND SYRINGE CALIBRATIONS

4. Cefazolin 500 mg is ordered. Cefazolin is supplied as a powder in a vial. Directions on the

vial state “add 10 mL of sterile water for injection for a concentration of 100 mg/mL.”
mL needed _______________________

5. Ticarcillin 700 mg is ordered. Ticarcillin is supplied as a powder in a vial. Directions on

the vial state “add 2 mL of sterile water for injection. Each 2.6 mL of solution will contain
1 gram of ticarcillin.” mL needed _______________________

6. Penicillin Potassium V 125 mg oral suspension is ordered. Penicillin Potassium V is

supplied as a powder in a screw-top bottle. Directions on the bottle state “fill with 75 mL
of water and shake to mix completely. Each 5 mL of solution contains 250 mg of Penicillin
Potassium V.” mL needed _______________________

7. Levothyroxine 100 mcg has been ordered. The vial of levothyroxine states “reconstitute
with 5 mL of 0.9% sodium chloride injection. Once reconstituted, the concentration of
levothyroxine is 40 mcg/mL.” mL needed _______________________

8. Voriconazole 150 mg is ordered. Voriconazole is supplied as a powder in a vial. Directions

on the label state “reconstitute with 19 mL of sterile water for injection to obtain a solution
containing 10 mg/mL.” mL needed _______________________

9. 250 mg Vantin oral suspension is ordered. Vantin is supplied as a powder in a screw-top

bottle. Directions on the label state “add 29 mL water and shake to mix thoroughly. Once
reconstituted, each 5 mL will contain 100 mg of Vantin.”
mL needed _______________________

10. Zithromax 200 mg has been ordered. Zithromax is supplied as a powder in a vial.
Directions on the vial state “reconstitute with 4.8 mL of sterile water for injection. Each
mL of solution contains 100 mg of drug.” mL needed _______________________

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 CHAPTER 10 RECONSTITUTION OF POWDERED DRUGS 93

Solutions to Additional Practice Problems

1. a. 4 mL: When reconstituted, there is 500 mg in 8 mL; 250 mg is needed which is half
of total mg, thus half of total volume.
b. bacteriostatic water for injection
c. 8 mL
d. controlled room temperature 20° to 25°C; 68° to 77°F
e. 48 hours after reconstitution
f. protect from light

2. a. 3 mL: Label states that once reconstituted, each mL contains 50 mg of medication.

Therefore, if there is 50 mg in 1 mL, 3 mL are needed for 150 mg.
b. bacteriostatic water for injection
c. 10 mL
d. controlled room tempurature 15° to 30°C; 59° to 86°F
e. 48 hours

3. 2 mL is needed. 500 mg is ordered. There is 250 mg per mL, therefore, 2 mL is needed.

4. 5 mL is needed. 500 mg is ordered, and the concentration of drug is 100 mg/mL. A

fraction depicting the ratio needed given what is supplied can be formed: 500 mg/
100 mg/mL = 5 mL.

5. 1.8 mL is needed. 700 mg is ordered, and the concentration of drug is 1 g or 1000 mg/
2.6 mL. A fraction depicting the ratio needed given what is supplied can be formed:
700 mg/1000 mg/mL = 0.7 mL = total volume needed. To solve for volume multiply 0.7 ×
2.6 = 1.82 = 1.8 mL when rounded to nearest tenth.

6. 2.5 mL is needed. 125 mg is ordered, and the concentration of drug is 250 mg/5mL.
125 mg is half of 250 mg, therefore, half of 5 mL is 2.5 mL.

7. 2.5 mL is needed. 100 mcg is ordered, and the concentration of drug is 40 mcg/mL.
A fraction depicting the ratio needed given what is supplied can be formed: 100 mcg/
40 mcg/mL = 2.5 mL.

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94 SECTION 3 READING MEDICATION LABELS AND SYRINGE CALIBRATIONS

8. 15 mL is needed. 150 mg is ordered, and the concentration of drug is 10 mg/mL.

A fraction depicting the ratio needed given what is supplied can be formed: 150 mg/
10 mg/mL = 15 mL.

9. 12.5 mL is needed. 250 mg is ordered, and the concentration of drug is 100 mg/5 mL or
each mL would contain 20 mg. A fraction depicting the ratio needed given what is
supplied can be formed: 250 mg/20 mg/mL = 12.5 mL.

10. 2 mL is needed. 200 mg is ordered, and the concentration of drug is 100 mg/mL. A
fraction depicting the ratio needed given what is supplied can be formed: 200 mg/
100 mg/mL = 2 mL.

© 2010 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.