Medications not yet evaluated by P&T are considered NON-FORMULARY . . . . . Always check 2 unique patient identifiers - NAME and DATE OF BIRTH - at every step! . . . . . Please be sure to document all clinical activities daily.

<< Back to News

12/18/20 ww Epinephrine 0.2 mg/0.3 mL Syringes for OR kits
December 18, 2020

From: "Wade Williams" <wade.williams@hhsys.org>
To: "Pharmacy Department" <grp_pharmacy@hhsys.org>
Sent: Friday, December 18, 2020 1:37:27 PM
Subject: Epinephrine 0.2mg/0.3mL Syringes for OR kits

Effective Monday, December 21st, we will no longer be making and providing the epinephrine 0.2 mg/0.3 mL syringes for OR kits.  Our Sterile Product areas starting making these for us over a year ago, and it was only intended to cover a short-term backorder of bupivacaine w/epi.  That product is still on backorder today with no clear end in sight, and we cannot continue to devote our clean room resources  to this endeavor.  OR leadership has been notified, but if you get questions concerning this product, use the information below or direct the questions to me.  

 
 
The only currently available epi containing alternative is lidocaine w/epinephrine. (mepivacaine w/epi is on backorder as well)  We currently have lidocaine 1% w/epi and lidocaine 2% w/epi.  We reached out to several other institutions, and this is what they are using as an alternative as well.   Note the chart below, showing similarities in duration of effect between products.
 
 
 

 

Drug pharmacokinetics per Facts and Comparisons 

Bupivacaine 

Bupivacaine with epinephrine  

lidocaine

Lidocaine with epinephrine

Mepivacaine

Mepivacaine with epinephrine 

Duration: 

2 to 4 hours

3 to 7 hours

0.5 to 1 hour

2 to 6 hours

2 to 2.5 hours

2 to 6 hours

Onset: 

5 min

nd

<2 min

<2 min 

3 to 20 min

nd

The table can be utilized to show that other products with epinephrine have similar durations of action and can be used in replacement for bupivacaine and epinephrine. This also helps to show that the epinephrine is useful to elongate durations of action, which physicians are used to in surgery currently.

 






This site is intended for the staff of Huntsville Hospital.
While others may view accessible pages, Huntsville Hospital makes no warranty, express or implied,
as to the use of this information outside of Huntsville Hospital.
Please note than many documents are accessible via the provided link
only when connected to the Huntsville Hospital intranet.

Copyright © 2024 Rpharmy, LLC ­ All Rights Reserved