Some therapies are not appropriate for short peripheral catheter administration and are recommended to be infused via a central venous access device. Therapies not appropriate for short peripheral catheter administration include continuous vesicant infusions, parenteral nutrition, infusates with a pH of less than 5 or greater than 9, and infusates with an osmolality greater than 600 mOsm/L. Additional medications are listed below that have a documented history of causing peripheral phlebitis.

Download a printable copy of the
Phlebogenic Medications Poster

This reference correlates to the online continuing education courses in our Infusion Section.

MEDICATION GENERIC/BRAND	DILUENT	pH	mOsmol/L
Acyclovir / Zovirax	NS @ 5mg/ml	10.5 - 11.6	316
Amiodarone / Cordarone	D5W @ 2mg/ml	4.1
Amphotericin B	D5W @ 0.1mg/ml	5.7	256
Amphotericin B / Albecet	D5W @ 1-2mg/ml	5.5 - 6	~280
Amphotericin B / Ambisome	D5W @ 1-2mg/ml	5 - 6	~280
Amphotericin B / Amphotec	D5W @ 0.2-0.8mg/ml	5 - 6	~280
Ampicillin – Sulbactam / Unasyn	NS 100ml	9 (8 - 10)	~400
Amrinone / Inocor	NS @ 2.5mg/ml	3.2 - 4	~300
Azithromycin 500 mg / Zithromax	NS @ 2mg/ml	6.4 - 6.8	~280
Aztreonam/Azactam	NS @ 10mg/ml	4.5 - 7.5
Caspofungin / Cancidas	NS @ 0.28-0.35 mg/ml	6.6
Cefepime / Maxipime	NS @ 5mg/ml	4 - 6
Cefotaxime / Claforan	NS @ 20mg/ml	5 - 7.5	350
Cefotetan / Cefotan	NS @ 20mg/ml	4.5 -6.5	~400
Cefoxitin / Mefosine	NS @ 20mg/ml	4.2 - 7	~325
Ceftazidime / Ceptaz	NS @ 20mg/ml	5 - 8	330
Ceftizoxime / Cefizox	NS @ 20mg/ml	6 - 8	~400
Cefuroxime / Ceftin	NS @ 15mg/ml	4.5 - 7.3	335
Ciprofloxacin 200 mg / Cipro	D5W 100 ml	3.3 - 4.6	285
Ciprofloxacin 400 mg / Cipro	D5W 200 ml	3.3 - 4.6	285
Cladrabine / Leustatin	NS 500 ml	5.7 - 8	~300
Clindamycin / Cleocin	NS @ 6mg/ml	5.7 - 7	~300
Dexrazoxane / Zinecard	NS @ 5mg/ml	3.5 - 5.5
Dobutamine HCL	NS @ 4mg/m1	3.5 (2.5 - 5.5)	280
Docetaxel / Taxotere	NS 0.3-0.9mg/ml
Dolasetron / Anzemet	SW @ 20mg/ml	3.2 - 3.8	285
Dopamine HCL	D5W	3.3 (2.5 - 4.5)	277
Doxycycline / Vibramycin IV	NS @ 1 mg/ml	1.8 - 3.3	310
Erythromycin 500 mg	NS 100 ml	7 (6.5 - 7.7)	291
Erythromycin 1 gm	NS 250 ml	7 (6.5 - 7.7)	290
Etoposide / VePesid	NS 0.2-0.4 mg/ml	3 - 4
Etoposide phosphate / Etopophos	NS 10mg/ml	3 - 4	~290
Foscarnet / Foscavir	SW @ 24mg/ml	7.4	271
Fosphenytoin / Cerebyx	NS @1.5-25PE/ml	8.6 - 9
Fluconazole / Diflucan	NS @ 2mg/ml	4 - 7	-300
Ganciclovir < 500 mg / Cytovene	NS 100 ml	11.0	320
Gatifloxacin / Tequin (removed from US market)	D5W 10mg/ml	3.5 - 5.5
Hemin for injection / Panhematin	SW @ 7mg/ml	8 - 9.5	~300
Imipenem-cilastatin / Primaxin	NS @ 5mg/ml	6.5-7.5	310
Iron Dextran Intravenous / Infed	NS @ 50mg/ml	5.2 - 6.5	2000
Iron Dextran Intravenous / Infed	NS @ 0.1mg/ml	5.2 - 6.5
Itraconazole / Sporanox	NS 3.3mg/ml	4.8
Levofloxacin 250 mg / Levaquin	D5W 50 ml	3.8 - 5.8	~250
Levofloxacin 500 mg / Levaquin	D5W 100 ml	3.8-5.8	~250
Meropenem / Merram	NS @ 5mg/ml	7.3 - 8.3	~300
Methicillin 1 gm	SWI 10 ml	7.6 (6 - 8.5)	510
Methicillin 2 - 3 gm	100 ml NS	7.6 (6 - 8.5)	371 - 415
Mitoxantrone / Novantrone	NS @ 0.2mg/ml	3 - 4.5	~300
Morphine Sulfate	NS 10mg/ml	4 (2.5 - 6.0)	295
Nafcillin 1 - 3 gm	NS 100 ml	6-8.5	361 - 398
Nafcillin 1 - 2 gm Frozen	Dextrose 50ml	6.7 - 7.2	276 - 324
Oxacillin 1 gm	SWI 10 ml	6-8.5	398
Oxacillin 1 - 2 gm	NS 100 ml	6-8.5	321 - 356
Oxacillin 1 - 2 gm Frozen	Dextrose 50ml	6.8 - 7.2	270 - 324
Pamidronate /Aredia	NS @ 0.09mg/ml	6 - 7.4	~300
Parenteral Nutrition	Amino acids-dextrose-fat	5.5	>600
Parenteral Nutrition	Amino acids-dextrose	5.3 - 6.3	>800
Pentamidine IV	D5W @ < 3mg/ml	4 - 4.4	455
Phenytoin / Dilantin	NS @ 5mg/ml	12	312
Potassium chloride premix	0.4 mEq/ml	5.0	800
Potassium chloride premix	0.3 mEq/mi	5.0	600
Quinupristin-dalfopristin/Sinercid	05W @ 2mg/ml	4.5 – 5
Sulfamethoxazole-Trimethoprim /Bactrim	D5W 100ml	10	541
Vancomycin / Vancocin	NS @ 5mg/ml	2.5 -4.5	290
Vinorelbine / Navelbine	D5W @ 1.5-3mg/ml	3.5
Zidovudine / Retrovir	D5W @ 4mg/ml	5.5	~260