Drug combinations in syringe drivers.

AIMS

Because of widely differing views on the drugs that can be administered in combination, this study was undertaken to record the combination of drugs in syringe drivers that we had found to be compatible.

METHODS

The content of syringe drivers in 100 consecutive patients in whom continuous subcutaneous infusion was used, was recorded. The incidence of skin reactions with the different drugs was noted. The efficacy of combinations used was assessed clinically.

RESULTS

A wide variety of drugs were used in many different combinations, with no clinical evidence of loss of efficacy. Some drug combinations are incompatible. Drugs known to cause skin reactions were not administered. In this study skin reactions depended on the number of drugs used in combination.

CONCLUSIONS

The array of medications that can be used together in syringe drivers enable this method of drug administration to be used successfully in the control of the diverse symptoms that may arise in terminal illness. Further study is needed for quantitative measurement of drug stability.