Abstract
The stability of diamorphine (0.02 mg/ml as the hydrochloride) in 250 ml bupivacaine hydrochloride (0.15% wt/vol infusion) was studied by high pressure liquid chromatography at temperatures in the range 7 to 45°C. Diamorphine hydrochloride was degraded by approximately 0.13% per day at 7°C. No bupivacaine hydrochloride degradation was detectable during the study. The storage life of the combination at 7°C, based on the lower 95% confidence limit of the time to 5% diamorphine hydrochloride degradation, was 14 days. The stability at 25°C was adequate to allow transport and administration over 24 h at ambient temperature. Stability was also maintained for at least 24 h at 32 and 45°C. Infusion of the mixture with an ambulatory infusion pump which uses a standard polyvinyl chloride infusion bag is therefore possible. A study of its compatibility with different infusion pump medication reservoirs was not undertaken. The drugs were also stable on frozen storage at −18°C for up to 6 months.
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Barnes, A.R., Nash, S. Stability of bupivacaine hydrochloride with diamorphine hydrochloride in an epidural infusion. Pharm World Sci 17, 87–92 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01875437
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01875437