THE STABILITY OF INTRAVENOUS ADDITIVE PREPARATIONS; STUDIES ON HYDRALLAZINE AS AN ADDITIVE

Summary Addition of a drug to an intravenous fluid is a useful method of administration which has been used widely over the past decade. Each drug has its own chemical nature and needs to be considered individually for stability before addition to any fluid. The chemical stability of hydralazine was studied in four intravenous fluids. Solutions of fluid and drug were examined by ultraviolet spectroscopy to try and assess stability. The drug was found to be unstable in dextrose ‐ containing solutions. Attempts were made to measure breakdown and identify products by polarimetry and thin layer chromatography, but were unsuccessful.