Morphine, haloperidol and hyoscine N-butyl bromide combined in s.c. infusion solutions: compatibility and stability. Evaluation in terminal oncology patients

Int J Pharm. 2006 Jan 13;307(2):278-84. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2005.10.017. Epub 2005 Nov 16.

Abstract

The administration of drugs by subcutaneous infusion is routinely practiced in palliative medicine for the management of patients who are no longer able to take oral medication. It is common for two or more drugs to be combined in subcutaneous solutions. The combination of an opioid with other drugs (haloperiol lactate and hyoscine N-butyl bromide) can be very valuable. Unfortunately, the compatibility and stability of morphine hydrochloride, haloperidol lactate and hyoscine N-butyl bromide combined in the same solution has not yet been determined. Therefore, this study examined the stability of ternary solutions containing morphine HCl, haloperidol lactate and hyoscine N-butyl bromide at different dose ranges. Twelve different solutions were assessed for 15 days after preparation in polypropylene syringes using 0.9% saline as diluent. Triplicate syringes were stored at 25 degrees C. HPLC was the analytical technique used to measure morphine HCl, haloperidol lactate and hyoscine N-butyl bromide. Initial concentration ranges were 1.67-10.0 mg/ml for morphine HCl, 0.417-0.625 mg/ml for haloperidol lactate and, 5.0-6.67 mg/ml for hyoscine N-butyl bromide. All three drugs were very stable (>92.5%) when stored at 25 degrees C. The clinical performance of the admixture was retrospectively assessed in 21 terminal oncology patients. Total symptom control was achieved in 17 out of 21 patients with very good local tolerance.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Analgesics, Opioid / administration & dosage
  • Analgesics, Opioid / chemistry
  • Analgesics, Opioid / therapeutic use
  • Antiemetics / administration & dosage
  • Antiemetics / chemistry
  • Antiemetics / therapeutic use
  • Butylscopolammonium Bromide / administration & dosage
  • Butylscopolammonium Bromide / chemistry*
  • Butylscopolammonium Bromide / therapeutic use
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Drug Combinations*
  • Drug Stability
  • Drug Storage
  • Female
  • Haloperidol / administration & dosage
  • Haloperidol / chemistry*
  • Haloperidol / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Injections, Subcutaneous
  • Laryngeal Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Liver Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Lung Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Morphine / administration & dosage
  • Morphine / chemistry*
  • Morphine / therapeutic use
  • Muscarinic Antagonists / administration & dosage
  • Muscarinic Antagonists / chemistry
  • Muscarinic Antagonists / therapeutic use
  • Palliative Care
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Analgesics, Opioid
  • Antiemetics
  • Drug Combinations
  • Muscarinic Antagonists
  • Butylscopolammonium Bromide
  • Morphine
  • Haloperidol