Phlebogenic Medications

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.
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 |