Use of Oral Syringe in Administration of Drugs in Unit-Dose

Souza, GB⁽¹⁾; Azevedo, JL⁽¹⁾; Barros, JFC⁽¹⁾; Monte, LA⁽¹⁾; Oliveira, DR⁽¹⁾; Pessanha, MCM⁽¹⁾; Ferreira, FS⁽²⁾ and Cerginer, M⁽²⁾

⁽¹⁾Department of Pharmacy, University Hospital, Niterói, RJ, Brazil and ⁽²⁾Barrier Consultants Pharmacy Services Ltd, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil

In march 1988 it was developed the dispensation system of medicines by unit-dose to oral solids at the Pharmacy Service of the University Hospital. Ever since we wished that the oral liquid medicines were dispensed by unit-dose in oral syringe. We achieved our aim in april 1997 when oral syringe of 3, 5 and 10mL started to be used. In october 1998 we also employed the oral syringe of 20mL. The forms, reports and labels used to polyethylene vials were the same to oral syringes. The most advantage of that method is the low cost and it is also easy to be handled. Moreover, oral syringes can be connected to nasogastric tubes. The use of oral syringes was a considerable improvement on polyethylene vials, because the prescriptions are made up accurately and the medicines are not contaminated. The oral syringe of 3mL is employed to extemporaneous formulations developed in the laboratory to the pediatric patients. The others of 5 and 10mL are used to medicines in the form of suspension or oral solution: ambroxol, bromexine, chloral hydrate, carbamazepine, carbocisteine, codein, potassium chloride, furosemide, cimetidine, chloranphenicol, cephalexin, dexamethasone, dexchlorpheniramine, erythromycin, phenytoin, potassium iodide, mebendazole, metronidazole, metoclopramide, nistatine, piperazine, pyrazinamide, rifampicin, ranitidine, salbutamol, sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim, theophylline, terbutaline, and thiabendazole. The oral syringe of 20mL is employed to: potassium chloride, aluminum hydroxide, potassium iodide and mineral oil. After the dispensation of liquid medicines in unit-dose have been implemented, its consumption decreased and the results are as follows: ambroxol (45,4%), bromexine (31,6%), potassium chloride (25,7%), cimetidine (66,7%), chloranphenicol (42%), cephalexin (67,1%), dexchlorpheniramine (84,2%), erythromycin (91%), mebendazole (32,7%), metronidazole (45,8%), salbutamol (84%), mineral oil (61,4%), theophylline (80%) and terbutaline (67,5%). An important reduction of 51,6% to the dispensed doses of liquid medicines in the form of solution was noticed and 43% to the dispensed doses in the form of suspensions.