Reconsitution of Glucagon

[firefighter523]

Need someones help finding the article explaining why Glucagon SHOULDN'T be reconsituted using 9%NS. From what I read before, it said something like, Glucagon only reconsitutes in fluids with a PH of less then 3.5 or greater then 9.0. ACE, I'm hoping you come through for me. I have to prove a point to someone!!

Thanks

[JPINFV]

[Glucagon] is relatively insoluble in water but is soluble at a pH of less than 3 or more than 9.5.

Glucagon is available for use intravenously, intramuscularly, or subcutaneously in a kit that contains a vial of sterile glucagon and a syringe of sterile diluent. The vial contains 1 mg (1 unit) of glucagon and 49 mg of lactose. Hydrochloric acid may have been added during manufacture to adjust the pH of the glucagon.1 One International Unit of glucagon is equivalent to 1 mg of glucagon. The diluent syringe contains 12 mg/ mL of glycerin, water for injection, and hydrochloric acid.

source= http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic2/gluca.htm

[firefighter523]

Thank you JPIN, I didn't think I was going crazy.

[fiznat]

Woah, weird. My service used to get the fluid and powder in a box together for reconstitution, but now all we get is the powder. Medics have been using sterile water (not NS) to mix the drug. The quote above seems to say that what we're doing is incorrect? I wonder what the PH of the sterile water we have is... Shane, do you know?

[Ridryder 911]

The common diluent is sterile water. Apparently not all concentrates are the same ingredients.

R/r 911

[fiznat]

Huh, interesting. I'll have to read the box next time I have a chance. haha nevermind Shane!

[firefighter523]

Well, I guess the sterile water that comes with it must have a PH of less than 3.0 or greater than 9.5. That would only be my guess.

[fiznat]

Nah cause we use sterile water that isnt included with the powder... Its made by a different company entirely.

[JPINFV]

Is the powder pure? I wonder if it has some sort of acid or base mixed in to alter the pH of water.

And, umm, why wouldn't sterile water not have a pH of 7?

[Thunderchild145]

I want to say the diluting solution that comes with the glucagon is Hyporet, but don't quote me on that. It does have added acids to lower the pH.