5% Dextrose Gaen A.K. Co., Ltd.

Adult administration

Usually, for adults, 500–1,000 mL is administered as a continuous intravenous infusion. The infusion rate should not exceed 0.5 g of dextrose per kg body weight per hour. Dosage and infusion rate should be adjusted according to age, weight, and symptoms.

This medication is an intravenous infusion solution that contains dextrose and potassium, and requires various precautions when used. Firstly, patients receiving dextrose intravenously need to be cautious as vitamin B1 (thiamine) depletion may increase the risk of deficiency. When administering this medication, allergic reactions or anaphylaxis can occur, thus treatment should be stopped immediately if any abnormal symptoms arise and appropriate treatment should be received. Since it contains potassium, there is a risk of hyperkalemia, and particular caution should be exercised for patients with impaired kidney function or heart disease, or those taking drugs that can induce hyperkalemia. Dextrose infusion can raise blood sugar levels, hence diabetic patients or those having difficulty controlling blood sugar need to monitor their levels frequently and should consider insulin therapy as necessary. Due to the sodium and chloride content, there may be risks of hypernatremia, hyperchloremia, metabolic acidosis, and therefore, patients at high risk of electrolyte imbalance should avoid use or be administered cautiously. Additionally, this solution may induce hyponatremia, thus special care should be taken to monitor serum sodium levels in children, elderly patients, post-operative individuals, and those taking specific medications. Fluid overload can occur, so control of the volume and rate of infusion is necessary; patients with heart failure or pulmonary diseases should be especially cautious. Refeeding syndrome may occur in severely malnourished patients, so nutrition should be introduced slowly while closely monitoring their condition. Administration should be prohibited in persons with hyperkalemia, hypernatremia, hyperglycemia, or a history of hypersensitivity reactions. Caution is advised in patients with impaired renal function, heart failure, or urinary obstruction, and monitoring of blood glucose, electrolytes, and fluid status should be done regularly during administration. This medication may interact with other drugs, especially with those that induce hyperkalemia, lithium, blood glucose control medications, and drugs that may induce hyponatremia. During pregnancy, careful administration is required considering the effects on the fetus, and blood glucose and electrolyte levels should be closely monitored in neonates, children, and elderly patients. In case of overdose, treatment should be stopped immediately and appropriate measures to adjust serum potassium levels are necessary. During administration, the infusion should be limited to less than 500 mL per day and less than 20 mL per hour, and to prevent air embolism, containers should not be continuously connected. Finally, this medication should be stored at room temperature and all precautions should be thoroughly followed during use.

Serious side effects

• Anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction)
• cerebral edema
• pulmonary edema
• peripheral edema (severe swelling)
• difficulty breathing (respiratory issue)
• cardiac arrest
• headache (severe neurological symptoms)
• seizures
• altered consciousness
• visual disturbances

Mild side effects

• Rash
• itching
• hyperkalemia
• hyperglycemia
• hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state
• hyponatremia
• fluid overload
• refeeding syndrome
• hypernatremia
• hyperchloremic metabolic encephalopathy

This medication should be stored in a sealed container to prevent air or moisture ingress. This helps maintain the therapeutic effect for a longer time.

Appearance

A colorless, transparent liquid contained in a polypropylene, multilayer film plastic container.

Package unit

500, 1000 milliliters