Bacteriostatic Water is a prescription medicine used to dilute or dissolve medications. Bacteriostatic Water may be used alone or with other medications. Bacteriostatic Water belongs to a class of drugs called Sterile Irrigating Solutions.
What is bacteriostatic water used for?
Bacteriostatic water is a solution of sterile water and benzyl alcohol. This solution is used to create a solution of various medications for the application of that medicine through injection.
Can I use sterile water instead of bacteriostatic water?
So while you can use sterile water instead of bacteriostatic water, always use what water is given in the directions. If you have questions about what water to use, such as if it is not indicated on the label, call your doctor. Your doctor is the ultimate reference to your medication.
Does bacteriostatic water go bad?
Bacteriostatic water does indeed go bad. It is recommended that after you open, or use a vial of bacteriostatic water, that you dispose of it after 28 days. This is because the effectiveness of benzyl alcohol as a preservative loses its potency with repeat use and exposure.
How does a bacteriostatic solution differ from a bactericidal solution?
Bacteriostatic solutions differ from bactericidal solutions in that bactericidal agents have the ability to kill bacteria. Bacteriostatic agents do not kill bacteria, they only keep the bacteria in a stationary phase of growth.
When do you use bacteriostatic water injection?
Bacteriostatic Water for InjectionMedically reviewed by Drugs.com. ... This parenteral preparation is indicated only for diluting or dissolving drugs for intravenous, intramuscular or subcutaneous injection, according to instructions of the manufacturer of the drug to be administered.More items...•
Is bacteriostatic water safe to inject?
Do not use Bacteriostatic Water (bacteriostatic water (bacteriostatic water for injection) for injection) for Injection, USP for intravenous injection unless the osmolar concentration of additives results in an approximate isotonic admixture.
How long can you use bacteriostatic water?
Bacteriostatic water can be used multiple times up to 28 days once opened. Pfizer recommends that after this time you must discard the vial.
What is sterile water for injection used for?
Sterile water for injection vials are primarily used to reconstitute medications available as lyophilized powders. While the prescribing information for some medications may indicate alternative sterile liquids for reconstitution, most specify that SW for injection must be used.
Can I buy bacteriostatic water at a pharmacy?
If you are needing bacteriostatic water for a medication today, you can shop around at various local pharmaceutical retailers, such as Walgreens, CVS, or Walmart. Their pharmacies should have bacteriostatic water in stock and have trusted suppliers for this product.
Is bacteriostatic water the same as distilled water?
has distilled water and nothing else. Bacteriostatic water is water with benzyl alcohol. Immediately you can gauge which is appropriate based on allergies. If you have an allergy to benzyl alcohol, discontinue or avoid bacteriostatic water and opt for sterile water.
Can I buy bacteriostatic water?
Simply visit or call your local pharmacy and mention if they can special order bacteriostatic water for you. Most drug distributors should have bacteriostatic water from reputable sources. It would be even more beneficial if you provide a particular identifying code such as a UPC, SKU, or NDC number.
Does bacteriostatic water have to be refrigerated?
There are no special rules that need to be followed as far as discard. Keep your unused bacteriostatic water in the container it arrives in. Store the container in a dark place with a residual, resting room temperature that doesn't exceed 80 degrees Fahrenheit and doesn't drop below 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
What is the difference between sterile water and bacteriostatic water?
Answer: Bacteriostatic water differs from sterile water by the addition of benzyl alcohol as a preservative with a final concentration of 0.9%. Benzyl alcohol can be a topical irritant but in the concentration of 0.9% does not typically cause irritation and may provide some anesthetic effects.
Can you inject sterile water into muscle?
A sterile version is used for making solutions that will be given by injection. Before such use other substances generally must be added to make the solution more or less isotonic. It can be given by injection into a vein, muscle, or under the skin.
What happens if you inject sterile water?
Sterile water is hypotonic (0 mOsm/L). Serious patient harm, including hemolysis, can result when it is administered by direct IV infusion. PA-PSRS and other medication error reporting programs have received reports of IV administration of sterile water to patients, some of which have resulted in patient deaths.
Can I drink sterile water?
Sterile Water for Irrigation is not potable water and is not intended for oral administration. Sterile Water for Irrigation that has been warmed must not be returned to storage.
What is bacteriostatic water?
So, what is bacteriostatic water? Bacteriostatic water is a solution of sterile water and benzyl alcohol. This solution is used to create a solution of various medications for the application of that medicine through injection.
How long does it take for bacteriostatic water to go bad?
Bacteriostatic water does indeed go bad. It is recommended that after you open, or use a vial of bacteriostatic water, that you dispose of it after 28 days. This is because the effectiveness of benzyl alcohol as a preservative loses its potency with repeat use and exposure.
Can you use sterile water instead of bacteriostatic water?
So while you can use sterile water instead of bacteriostatic water, always use what water is given in the directions. If you have questions about what water to use, such as if it is not indicated on the label, call your doctor. Your doctor is the ultimate reference to your medication.
Can you use sterile water twice?
So you will want to be sure to check the label and usage of sterile water before application. Also, due to the lack of benzyl alcohol, sterile water can only be used once, since it can easily become contaminated. Which reduces its practicality for medical injections, especially with multiple use medications. Most of the time, medications that ...
Is sterile water used for injections?
While you can, it should be mentioned that sterile water used for injection is different than sterile water used for washing, cleaning, or irrigation.
Is MRSA sterile?
For instance, most people are unaware that MRSA, which causes staph infection, perpetually lives on the skin. That is not sterile. These suppliers have access to tens of thousands of dollars worth of equipment specifically to avoid such a scenario. You will put your health at risk trying to make bacteriostatic water.
Can bacteriostatic water be used to clean?
Powdered medicines may be prescribed that require a solvent to be prepared for injection. Bacteriostatic water can be used to clean, or simply used, in equipment to prevent bacterial growth, such as a humidifier.
Bacteriostatic Definition
What does bacteriostatic mean? Bacteriostatic is a term used to describe any agent or substance that has the ability to prevent bacterial growth. Bacteriostatic solutions differ from bactericidal solutions in that bactericidal agents have the ability to kill bacteria.
Bacteriostatic Water
What is bacteriostatic water? Bacteriostatic water is a sterile solution that contains 0.9% benzyl alcohol. Benzyl alcohol is an aromatic organic molecule with a six-membered ring and one hydroxymethyl (CH 2 -OH) attachment. The alcohol is an added preservative that contributes to the solution's bacteriostatic nature.
Bacteriostatic Water for Injection
Primarily, healthcare professionals use bacteriostatic water for injection purposes. Most drugs must be diluted to their proper concentrations before being introduced to the human body. This is to ensure that the drug is not administered at levels that may be toxic to the patient.