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Epidural diamorphine and bupivacaine stability study
L Kreeger1, P Cowin, J Noble-Gresty
1Pembridge Palliative Care Unit, Charing Cross Hospital, Royal Marsden Hospital, London, UK.
Palliative Medicine
|October 1, 1995
Summary
Combining diamorphine and bupivacaine for spinal analgesia is safe. Stability tests over eight days showed no significant changes in drug concentrations, confirming mixture safety for patient-controlled analgesia pumps.
Area of Science:
- Anesthesiology
- Pharmacology
- Pharmaceutical Chemistry
Background:
- Diamorphine and bupivacaine are frequently co-administered for spinal analgesia.
- Limited stability data exists for this drug combination.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the stability of diamorphine and bupivacaine mixtures.
- To determine the safety of combining these agents for patient-controlled analgesia (PCA).
Main Methods:
- High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to quantify diamorphine and bupivacaine concentrations.
- The British Pharmacopoeia 2,6-dimethylaniline limit test assessed bupivacaine purity.
- Stability was evaluated over eight days at room temperature in PCA pump bags.
Main Results:
- No significant degradation or concentration change was observed for either diamorphine or bupivacaine.
- Bupivacaine purity remained within acceptable limits, with 2,6-dimethylaniline levels well below the specified limits.
Conclusions:
- The combination of diamorphine and bupivacaine is chemically stable under the tested conditions.
- This mixture is deemed safe for use in patient-controlled analgesia pumps.