Levomepromazine hydrochloride 25mgml solution for injection emc. Long half life therefore each dose can last 12 to 24 hours. Request pdf continuous subcutaneous infusion practices of united states hospices in hospice organizations, continuous subcutaneous infusion csi is a common medication delivery modality for. Care of the dying severe renal failure clinical guideline. Painbreathlessness nb if already on oral opioids, see below for conversion.
The usual dose is half to one vial by injection, although up to two vials may be used. The required dose of levomepromazine injection 25mg to 200mg. The dose of opioid in a csci by syringe driver should be determined by the previous. Syringe drivers in this article setting up the syringe driver drugs used in the syringe driver drug compatibility problems with syringe drivers. Asrequired dose for oral and subcutaneous injection. Drowsiness may affect performance of skilled tasks e. Dexamethasone has a long half life and can therefore be administered as a bolus dose once daily, preferably in the morning. Guidance on the management of symptomatic patients dying. If the patient is in pain, vomiting or very agitated, give a stat sc injection of appropriate medication while setting up the syringe driver. Prescribe a sc syringe driver range on community mar chart to allow titration of dose. Levomepromazine scottish palliative care guidelines. Levomepromazine in palliative care, levomepromazine is sometimes prescribed to treat sickness. Syringe driver drug compatibilities guide to practice 20 july 20 these guidelines have been ed.
Only use drugs that are known to be effective via the sc route. Continuous subcutaneous infusion nozinan injection may be administered over a 24 hour period via a syringe driver. If symptoms not settled with levomepromazine syringe driver 50mg24hour and midazolam syringe driver. At greater doses it is recommended that dexamethasone be administered by a separate site via a stat dose or in a separate syringe driver. Prescribing in palliative care overview palliative care is an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing lifethreatening illness, through the prevention and relief of suffering by means of early identification and impeccable assessment and treatment of pain and other problems, physical, psychosocial, and. Oral dose parenteral dose subcutaneously over 24 hours via a syringe driver parenteral dose subcutaneous stat doses notes cyclizine antihistamine central causes. Levetiracetam injection 100mgml can be given via a syringe driver using a po. Morgan s, evans n 2004 a small observational study of the longevity of syringe driver. It is sometimes necessary to miss step 2 and go straight to step 3. Nozinan tablets 25mg may be given instead of levomepromazine hydrochloride injection if oral therapy is more.
April 2017 introduction palliative care patients often exhibit multiple symptoms that require the use of numerous drugs. A syringe driver takes 34 hours to establish a steady state drug level in plasma. Starting setting up a syringe driver mckinley t34 if symptomatic give stat dose as syringe driver takes 2 4 hours from setting up to achieve effect. Prescribe one sixth of total 24hour dose for breakthrough pain.
Diamorphine alternatives morphine 10mgml and 30mgml ampoules or oxycodone 10mg1ml, 20mg2ml or 50mg1ml are used as alternatives to diamorphine in some circumstances, and will mix with other drugs in a syringe driver similar to diamorphine. Syringe driver drug compatibilities practice guidelines 2011. Dose the oral bioavailability of levomepromazine is approximately 20 40%. Nausea and vomiting haloperidol and levomepromazine can both be given as a subcutaneous infusion but sedation can limit the dose of levomepromazine. Palliative care physicians will commonly prescribe it orally or via subcutaneous syringe drivers in combination with opioid analgesics such as hydromorphone. Continuous subcutaneous infusion practices of united.
This dose may be repeated every 6 to 8 hours if required alternatively a dose of up to 8 vials diluted with saline may be infused over 24 hours. The required dose of nozinan injection 25mg to 200mg per day should be diluted with the calculated volume of normal saline. When and how to use a syringe driver in palliative. Subcutaneous sc drug infusion by portable syringe driver has had a. If severe renal impairment, seek specialist advice morphine 2.
This is because the niki t34 syringe driver simplifies administration by detecting the syringe size and volume of medicine, and sets the rate to deliver the infusion over the required time period, e. A syringe driver is a small, portable, battery operated device that administers medicines subcutaneously over a selected time period, usually 24 hours. When added to a syringe driver the recommended diluent is sodium. Nozinan 25mgml solution for injectioninfusion summary. Drugs for subcutaneous administration in syringe drivers. Nb recent guidelines about maximum dose and duration of metoclopramide and domperidone are deemed not to apply to palliative care levomepromazine 6. Scottish palliative care guidelines levomepromazine. Prescribing anticipatory drugs nhs north kirklees ccg.
If the symptoms are not controlled on levomepromazine 25mg over 24 hours, contact the specialist palliative care service for advice. Subcutaneous levetiracetam keppra in palliative and. Cancer supportive and palliative care guidelines for end of life. Choice of diluent the choice of diluent for the infusion solution varies according to local guidelines as there is evidence for and against the two most commonly used diluents sterile water. Low doses for nauseavomiting and higher doses for deliriumagitation. Indications, dose, contraindications, sideeffects, interactions, cautions, warnings and other safety information for levomepromazine. Syringe driver drug compatibilities guide to palliative. As required injections may be needed to gain control of agitation or while an sc infusion takes effect. If using levomepromazine in a syringe driver, the syringe should be shielded from sunlight.
Ensure breakthrough dose remains at 16th of syringe driver dose. Diamorphine hydrochloride is compatible with this solution and may be added if greater analgesia is required. The oral bioavailability of levomepromazine is approximately 20. If using levomepromazine in a syringe driver, the syringe should be shielded from. Example a syringe driver dose converting from oral morphine to syringe driver e. For patients who are already on opioids, the alfentanil dose will be based on their previous opioid requirements table 1. Prescribing medication for anticipatory last days of life. Levomepromazine 50mg 200mg 25mg100mg in frailelderly over 24 hours midazolam 10mg 30mg over 24hours. Safe practice in syringe pump management nursing times. Zomorph 60mg 12 hourly 120 mg 120mg2 60mg dose of morphine subcutaneously via syringe driver over 24 hours 60mg key. If you change the syringe driver dose remember to also change the 4 hourly prn dose to calculate the prn dose of sc morphine prescribe 16th of the 24 hour dose in the driver.
Syringe driver drug compatibilities guide to practice 20. Dose of levomepromazine can be increased up to a maximum of 200mg sc in 24 hours, but seek specialist palliative care advice at levomepromazine doses above 50mg sc in. As photosensitisation may occur with higher dosages, patients should avoid direct sunlight. If symptoms not settled with levomepromazine syringe driver 50mg24hour and midazolam syringe driver 10mg24hour contact specialist palliative care team for advice on dose titration. If haloperidol alone is not effective, add cyclizine. Diazepam, chlorpromazine and prochlorperazine are too. Graham f, clark d 2005 the syringe driver and the subcutaneous route in palliative care. Anticipatory medication stat dose and syringe pump. Levomepromazine drug bnf content published by nice. Rate of infusion levetiracetam should be infused via csci over 24 hours.
The mckinley t34 is calibrated in mlhour a 30ml luer lock syringe is recommended the maximum volume of fluid in a 30ml syringe is 22ml. Use of alfentanil in renal failure in palliative care in. Continuous sc infusion via syringe driver 500micrograms24 hours. However, depending on the volume, two 12 hour drivers may be required. Guidance for anticipatory prescribing and symptom control. Cyclizine diamorphine dose syringe particularly likely to precipitate if mixed with diamorphine or other drugs see under mixing diamorphine dose syringe compatibility, below metoclopramide. The conversion ratio for oral po to subcutaneous subcut doses varies in clinical use from centre to centre. The use of medicines in syringe drivers guidelines for. Levomepromazine 5mg25mg for nausea or use glycopyrronium rather. The use of medicines in syringe drivers medication indication sc starting dose 24 hours ampoule opioid morphine oxycodone pain dyspnoea pain 12 total daily dose of oral morphine or 10mg20mg if not already taking opioids 510mg if not already taking opioids 12 total daily dose of oral oxycodone 10mg1ml 15mg1ml 20mg1ml 30mg1ml 60mg2ml.
Therefore, the initial dose by sc infusion should be the same as the previously administered total daily dosage taken orally. The use of subcutaneous levetiracetam in palliative medicine. This article is for information only and should not abd used for the diagnosis or treatment. Primary care medication guidelines for anticipatory last. Anticipatory medication stat dose and syringe pump driver guidance anticipatory medication guidance updated 24. Levomepromazine for nausea and vomiting in palliative care cox. Any change in the syringe driver dose should take account of the number of sc prn doses given over the last 24 hours. Dose escalation schedules may vary depending on the clinical condition the patient. The required dose of levomepromazine injection 25mg to 200mg per day should be diluted with the calculated volume of normal saline.
Cover syringe containing the infusion as degrades in sunlight purple colouration. It can be taken either as a tablet or as an injection under the skin or the total daily dose may also be given as an infusion under the skin over 24 hours via a syringe driver subcutaneous pump. Prescribing in palliative care medicines guidance bnf. Levomepromazine is an antipsychotic drug is commonly used as an. When added to a syringe driver the recommended diluent is sodium chloride 0. Managing common end of life symptoms in community patients. When the oral route is no longer appropriate, a syringe driver can be used to ensure continued symptom control. Syringe driver drug compatibilities guide to palliative care practice 2016 sodium chloride 0. The eastern metropolitan region palliative care consortium emrpcc grants permission to reproduce parts of this publication for clinical and educational use only, provided that the emrpcc is acknowledged.