Dextrose Injection Infants

Generic name: dextrose monohydrate
Dosage form: injection, solution
Drug class:Glucose elevating agents

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Mar 1, 2022.

Description

25% Dextrose Injection, USP is a sterile, nonpyrogenic, hypertonic solution of dextrose in water for injection administered by intravenous injection to restore blood glucose levels in hypoglycemia and as a source of carbohydrate calories. Each milliliter (mL) of fluid contains dextrose, hydrous, 250 mg which delivers 3.4 kcal/gram (0.85 kcal/mL). The solution has an osmolarity of 1.39 mOsmol/mL (calc.). pH is 4.5 (3.2 to 6.5). May contain hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide for pH adjustment. The solution contains no bacteriostat, antimicrobial agent or added buffer (except for pH adjustment) and is intended only for use as a single-dose injection. When smaller doses are required the unused portion should be discarded with the entire unit.
25% Dextrose Injection, USP is a dextrose (glucose) and nutrient (carbohydrate) replenisher. Dextrose, USP is chemically designated D-glucose monohydrate, (C6H12O6• H2O), a hexose sugar freely soluble in water.
It has the following structural formula:

The syringe is molded from a specially formulated polypropylene. Water permeates from inside the container at an extremely slow rate which will have an insignificant effect on solution concentration over the expected shelf life. Solutions in contact with the plastic container may leach out certain chemical components from the plastic in very small amounts; however, biological testing was supportive of the safety of the syringe material.

Clinical Pharmacology

When administered intravenously, this solution restores blood glucose levels in hypoglycemia and provides a source of carbohydrate calories. Carbohydrate in the form of dextrose may aid in minimizing liver glycogen depletion and exerts a protein-sparing action. Dextrose injection undergoes oxidation to carbon dioxide and water. 25% Dextrose Injection, USP provides a concentrated solution sufficiently nonirritating for slow intravenous injection to infants for terminating acute symptomatic episodes of hypoglycemia in the neonate and in older infants (fasting blood glucose below 40 mg/100 mL). Values as low as 20 mg/100 mL are not uncommon in normal asymptomatic infants the first few days of life (longer in premature infants).
Symptoms of hypoglycemia in the newborn and small infants may be difficult to evaluate and convulsions often are the f