Stability of amiodarone hydrochloride in admixtures with other injectable drugs

The stability of amiodarone hydrochloride in intravenous admixtures was studied. Amiodarone hydrochloride 900 mg was mixed with 500 mL of either 5% dextrose injection or 0.9% sodium chloride injection in polyvinyl chloride or polyolefin containers; identical solutions were also mixed with either potassium chloride 20 meq, lidocaine hydrochloride 2000 mg, quinidine gluconate 500 mg, procainamide hydrochloride 2000 mg, verapamil hydrochloride 25 mg, or furosemide 100 mg. All admixtures were prepared in triplicate and stored for 24 hours at 24 degrees C. Amiodarone concentrations were determined using a stability-indicating high-performance liquid chromatographic assay immediately after admixture and at intervals during storage. Each solution was visually inspected and tested for pH. Amiodarone concentrations decreased less than 10% in all admixtures except those containing quinidine gluconate in polyvinyl chloride containers. The only visual incompatibility observed was in admixtures containing quinidine gluconate and 5% dextrose injection. In most solutions pH either decreased slightly or remained unchanged. Amiodarone hydrochloride is stable when mixed with either 5% dextrose injection or 0.9% sodium chloride injection in polyvinyl chloride or polyolefin containers alone or with potassium chloride, lidocaine, procainamide, verapamil, or furosemide and stored for 24 hours at 24 degrees C. Amiodarone should not be mixed with quinidine gluconate in polyvinyl chloride containers.