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Diagnosed With Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome. Port A Catch Installed Due To Viable Veins. Taking Promethazine. Suggest The Cure?

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Posted on Mon, 28 Oct 2013
Question: I’m sorry ahead of time for the long explanation.
My wife has Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome (CVS), diagnosed 18 years ago. In April, she had a port-a-catch installed due to her lack of viable veins. This has made the process so much less stressful and has allowed me to change from IM injections to IV. I have been diluting the promethazine 5:1 with .9% Sodium Chloride flush to prevent the drug from acting as battery acid on her main vein.
Currently she has been in the longest ongoing episode so far, lasting 36 days to date. So as you can imagine, it has been a struggle to keep up with my med stock.
My Dr has taken a vacation to Korea and I’m kind of stuck on my own right now. I’m running out of flush and with no refills, I’m ready to turn to the Heprin flush as an alternative dilute solution. My concern is that heprin being the blood thinner and promethazine having such a high PH, that the heprin might help the promethazine eat up her vein.
I tried using the drug interaction guides online, but apparently Heprin in not a drug and I can’t find out if there would be a problem.
Can you give me any guidance as to whether Heprin would be a suitable substitute to dilute the promethazine?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Deepak Kishore Kaltari (8 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Heparin is not recommended for dilution

Detailed Answer:

Dear Sir,

I have read your query with diligence.

Heparin is definitely not recommended for dilution of Promethazine. We use diluted Heparin flush once daily to maintain long term potency of Porta XXXXXXX Heparin is itself diluted with Normal saline or distilled water. So it's not advisable to use Heparin as dilution fluid.

Take care
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Deepak Kishore Kaltari (37 minutes later)
Thank you for your answer. Just so I'm clear on what I have. The script reads:
Heparin 500 Unit/5ML (100/ML) Qnty 100
I apparently misspelled it earlier.
The quantity of 100ml equals twenty 5 ml syringes of heparin.
So to clarify, the above as written needs to be diluted, or it is already diluted?
I am instructed to use it as is.
Thanks
doctor
Answered by Dr. Deepak Kishore Kaltari (30 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
It's already diluted by 1:10 concentration

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

The Heparin available normally contains 5000 iu/5ml that is it contains 1000 iu/ml. The Solution which you are having is containing 100 iu/ml, meaning that it is already diluted by factor of ten 1:10.

I hope I have replied to your query.
Take care
Regards
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Deepak Kishore Kaltari

General Surgeon

Practicing since :2002

Answered : 3195 Questions

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Diagnosed With Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome. Port A Catch Installed Due To Viable Veins. Taking Promethazine. Suggest The Cure?

Brief Answer:
Heparin is not recommended for dilution

Detailed Answer:

Dear Sir,

I have read your query with diligence.

Heparin is definitely not recommended for dilution of Promethazine. We use diluted Heparin flush once daily to maintain long term potency of Porta XXXXXXX Heparin is itself diluted with Normal saline or distilled water. So it's not advisable to use Heparin as dilution fluid.

Take care
Regards