IV Dilution Information for Chemotherapy Medications
Alphabetized by Generic Name
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Aldesleukin (Proleukin)
	Dilute dose in 50ml Dextrose 5% and infuse over 15 minutes
	Acceptable concentration range: 30-70mcg/ml (1.5-3.5mg in 50ml) (24.5-57 million i.u. in 50ml)
	Stable for 48 hours
Amifostine (Ethyol)
	Infuse over 15 minutes (for chemo) or 3 minutes (for radiation) 30 minutes before treatment
	Stable in NaCl ***DO NOT DILUTE IN DEXTROSE***
	Stable for 24 hours under refrigeration or 5 hours at room temperature
	Dilute to 5-40mg/ml
Asparaginase (Elspar)
	Compatible with dextrose and NaCl
	Infuse over at least 30 minutes
	No specific dilution information available
	Use infusion within 8 hours
	May be given IM or IV
Bleomycin
	Use infusion within 24 hours (Solution stability may be much longer than this)
	Mix in 0.9% NaCl. Bleomycin is unstable in dextrose.
	Infuse over 10 minutes
	May be given IM,IV, or SubQ
	For IM injection: dilute to 3-15mg/ml
	For IV injection: dilute to less than 3mg/ml
	For Intrapleural injection: dilute in 50-100ml of saline
Busulfan (Busulfex)
	Available in 6mg/ml solution
	Dilute 10 fold for infusion (i.e. 10ml of busulfan in 100ml of fluid)
	Compatible with dextrose and NaCl
	Give through a central line
	Infuse over 2 hours every 6 hours for 4 consecutive days (16 total doses)
	Stable for 12 hours under refrigeration or 8 hours at room temperature
Carboplatin (Paraplatin)
	Use infusion within 8 hours (Solution stability may be much longer than this)
	Dilute to a concentration no LOWER than 0.5mg/ml
	Compatible with dextrose and NaCl
	Infuse over at least 15 minutes
Carmustine (Bicnu)
	Mix ONLY in 0.9% NaCl
	Stable for 24 hours under refrigeration or 8 hours at room temperature
	Infuse over 1-2 hours (longer infusion decreases incidence of pain/burning at injection site and flushing
	No specific dilution information available
Cisplatin (Platinol)
	Patient should be hydrated with 1-2 liters of fluid over 8-12 hours prior to giving cisplatin
	Total cisplatin dose should be diluted into 2 liters of fluid (it may vary, this is not an absolute amount)
	Infuse over 6-8 hours
	Usually given IV, may be given intra-arterial and intraperitoneal instillation.
	Must be diluted in 0.9% NaCl or D5NS, but NOT D5W (There must be NaCl in the infusion)
	Minimum NaCl concentration in infusion is 0.2% (Cisplatin becomes unstable if it is lower)
	Stable for 24 hours
Cladribine (Leustatin)
	Dilute only in 0.9% NaCl, dextrose increases degredation of cladribine
	Stable for at least 14 days under refrigeration
	If precipitate forms in vial due to refrigeration, allow vial to come to room temp but do not heat vial
	Dilute 500ml 0.9% NaCl for infusion for repeated once daily doses
	Infuse 500ml bag over 24 hours for 7 consecutive days
Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan)
	Compatible with dextrose and NaCl
	Stable for 6 days under refrigeration or 24 hours at room temperature
	No specific dilution information available
	May be given intraperitoneally, intrapleurally, IM, IV push, or continuous/intermittent IV infusion
Cytarabine (Cytosar U)
	Compatible with dextrose and NaCl
	Stable for at least 48 hours at room temperature
	May be given intrathecally, SubQ, IM, IV push, or continuous/intermittent IV infusion
	No specific dilution information available
	Usually infused over 1-3 hours
Dacarbazine (DTIC-Dome)
	***Protect from light***
	Compatible with dextrose and NaCl
	Stable for 24 hours at room temperature and 96 hours under refrigeration if protected from light
	Dilute in 250ml of fluid and infuse over 15-30 minutes
Dactinomycin (Cosmegen)
	Stable for 24 hours
	***Do NOT give IM or subq; IV only***
	May be given IV push or IV infusion
	Compatible with dextrose and NaCl
	Do not dilute with a preservative containing solution, it may cause precipitation
	May be pushed without further dilution over a few minutes in the vein with a free flowing fluid,
	and be sure to flush the line when you're done; you can also dilute it in a minibag
Daunorubicin (Cerubidine) (Daunoxome is liposomal formulation)
	Compatible with dextrose and NaCl
	Stable for 24 hours at room temperature or 48 hours under refrigeration
	Give IV only
	Administration option 1: Dilute with 10-15ml and give IV push over 2-3 minutes in a line with a rapidly flowing large volue fluid
	Administration option 2:  Dilute in 100ml and infuse over 30-45 minutes
Dexrazoxane (Zinecard)
	***Do not refrigerate*** may cause precipitation
	Stable for 24 hours at room temperature
	Give by slow IV push or rapid IV infusion
	Compatible with dextrose and NaCl, but slightly more stable in dextrose than NaCl (5% vs. 9% loss in 24 hours)
Docetaxel (Taxotere)
	Compatible with dextrose and NaCl
	Stable for at least 8 hours under refrigeration or at room temperature; may be much longer (see Trissels)
	Infusion should be between 0.3 and 0.74mg/ml
	Mix in a glass bottle
	Infuse over 1 hour
Doxorubicin liposomal (Doxil)
	Do NOT mix in 0.9% NaCl
	Dilute in 250ml of dextrose 5% in water
	Stable for 24 hours under refrigeration
	For AIDS related Kaposi's sarcoma: infuse over 30 minutes
	For Ovarian cancer: initiate at 1mg/minute and if it's tolerated give the full dose over 1 hour
Doxorubicin NON-liposomal (Adriamycin)
	Compatible with dextrose and NaCl
	Stable for 7 days at room temperature and 15 days under refrigeration
	Infuse no faster than over 5 minutes
	No specific dilution information available
Epirubicin (Ellence)
	Compatible with dextrose and NaCl
	Stable for 14 days at room temp and under refrigeration
	Dilute to 50-100mcg/ml for infusion
	Infuse over 3-5 minutes
	Do NOT give IV push due to extravasation
Etoposide
	Compatible with dextrose and NaCl
	Stable for 24 hours at room temperature
	Dilute to 0.2-0.4mg/ml for infusion
	Infuse over 30-60 minutes
Etoposide Phosphate (Etopophos)
	Compatible with dextrose and NaCl
	Stable for 24 hours at room temperature and 7 days under refrigeration
	Milligram dose is in Etoposide equivalents and has nothing to do with the phosphate
	Reconstitute vial to 10mg/ml. Dose may be given without any further dilution or as low as 0.1mg/ml
	Infuse over 5 minutes to 3½ hours
Floxuridine (Fudr)
	Compatible with dextrose and NaCl
	Stable for 14 days under refrigeration
	Dilute to 5-10mg/ml for infusion
	Do not exceed a rate of 200mg/hr
Fludarabine (Fludara)
	Compatible with dextrose and NaCl
	Mix in 100ml of fluid and infuse over 30 minutes
	Manufacturer suggests using solution within 8 hours of mixing, but it is stable much longer (See Trissels)
Gemcitabine (Gemzar)
	Compatible with dextrose and NaCl
	Do NOT refrigerate; may cause crystallization
	Stable for 24 hours at room temperature
	Dilute to 0.1-38mg/ml for infusion
	Administered once weekly by IV infusion over 30 minutes
Idarubicin (Idamycin)
	Compatible with dextrose and NaCl
	***Protect from light***
	Stable for at least 72 hours at room temperature if protected from light
	Infuse over 10-15 minutes
	No specific dilution information available
Ifosfamide (Ifex)
	Compatible with dextrose and NaCl
	Stable for 7 days at room temperature or 6 weeks under refrigeration
	Infuse over at least 30 minutes
	Dilute to 0.6-20mg/ml
Interferon alpha 2b (Intron A/Rebetol)
	Dilute only in NaCl solutions
	May be given IM, SubQ, IV infusion, or intralesionally
	50 million I.U. only for use in malignant melanoma and AIDS related Kaposi's sarcoma
	Stable for up to 28 days at room temperature
	For IV infusions, dilute to no less than 0.1 million I.U. per ml and infuse over 20 minutes
Irinotecan (Camptosar)
	Compatible with dextrose and NaCl
	***Protect from light***
	Stable for 28 days at room temp or under refrigeration if protected from light
	Dilute to 0.12-2.8mg/ml for infusions
	Infuse over 90 minutes
Leucovorin (Wellcovorin)
	Compatible with dextrose and NaCl
	***Protect from light***
	Stable for 7 days under refrigeration
	May be given IM or IV push
	Do not exceed 160mg per minute
	Dilute to 10-20mg/ml
	Chemotherapy adjunct, not actually chemo
	When doses are greater than 10mg/m2, diluents containing benzyl alcohol should NOT be used
Mechlorethamine (Mustargen)
	Dilute only with 0.9% NaCl or water
	Must be used immediately after reconstitution
	May be given IV push or directly into body cavities
	For IV push: Dilute to 1mg/ml, push over a few minutes, and flush vein with 5-10ml of an IV solution
	For injecting into body cavities: Dilute with 100ml of NaCl 0.9%
Melphalan (Alkeran)
	Dilute in 0.9% NaCl to a concentration not greater than 0.45%
	Must be used immediately after mixing (rapid decomposition)
	Infusion must be completed within 1 hour of mixing
	Infuse over 15-20 minutes
Mesna (Mesnex)
	Compatible with dextrose and NaCl
	Stable for 24 hours at room temperature
	Dilute to 20mg/ml for infusion
	Usually infused over 15-30 minutes, but has been used as a continuous infusion
	Chemotherapy adjunct, not actually chemo
Methotrexate
	Compatible with dextrose and NaCl
	Stable for 7 days at room temperature if protected from light
	May be given IM, IA, IV, or intrathecally
	For intrathecal use, dilute to 1mg/ml (use preservative free diluent and drug) and make immediately prior to use
	No specific dilution or infusion rate information available
Mitomycin (Mutamycin)
	Dilute only in NaCl solutions
	Stable for 7 days at room temperature or 14 days under refrigeration
	Reconstituted solution (from vial) should be administered through the tubing of an IV infusion
Mitoxantrone (Novantrone)
	Compatible with dextrose and NaCl
	Stable for at least 48 hours at room temperature and under refrigeration
	Dilute in at least 50ml of fluid and infuse over 15-30 minutes
	May also be infused over 24 hours
Paclitaxel
	Compatible with dextrose and NaCl
	Stable for at least 48 hours at room temperature
	Do NOT refrigerate
	Dilute to 0.3-1.2mg/ml for infusion
	Usually infused over 3 hours but different infusion times have been used
Pentostatin (Nipent)
	Compatible with dextrose and NaCl, but more stable in 0.9% NaCl
	In 0.9% NaCl, stable for 48 hours at room temperature and 96 hours under refrigeration
	Dilute in 50ml for infusion
	Prior to infusion, give patient 500-1000ml of fluid, then infuse dose over 20-30 minutes, then give patient an additional 500ml of fluid after the dose
Streptozocin (Zanosar)
	Compatible with dextrose and NaCl
	Stable for 48 hours at room temperature and 96 hours under refrigeration
	Infuse over 15 minutes to 6 hours
	May be given by direct IV injection or after further dilution in dextrose 5% or 0.9% NaCl
Teniposide (Vumon)
	Compatible with dextrose and NaCl
	Stable for 24 hours at room temperature
	Do NOT refrigerate
	Dilute to a concentration less than 1mg/ml (1mg/ml or more increases chance of precipitation)
	Infuse over 30-60 minutes
Thiotepa (Thioplex)
	***Protect from light***
	Compatible with dextrose and NaCl
	Stable for 24 hours at room temperature and 48 hours under refrigeration
	Dilute to 1-3mg/ml for IV push
	Can be given IV push, IM, intrathecally, and directly into the tumor
Topotecan (Hycamtin)
	Compatible with dextrose and NaCl
	Stable for 24 hours at room temperature
	Dilute in 50-250ml of fluid for infusion
	Infuse over 30 minutes
Vinblastine (Velban)
	FOR IV USE ONLY!!!! FATAL IF GIVEN INTRATHECALLY.
	***Protect from light***
	Compatible with dextrose and NaCl
	Stable for at least 24 hours at room temperature and 21 days under refrigeration
	Dilute the vial with 10ml, but other than that no other dilution is required
	Give IV push over one minute
Vincristine (Oncovin)
	FOR IV USE ONLY!!!! FATAL IF GIVEN INTRATHECALLY.
	Compatible with dextrose and NaCl
	Stable for 24 hours at room temperature and 7 days under refrigeration
	Drug is usually given undiluted IV push over 1 minute
	May be diluted and given as an IV infusion
Vinorelbine (Navelbine)
	FOR IV USE ONLY!!!! FATAL IF GIVEN INTRATHECALLY.
	Compatible with dextrose and NaCl
	Stable for 24 hours at room temperature and under refrigeration
	Dilute to 1.5-3mg/ml if dispensing in a syringe OR 0.5-2mg/ml if dispensing in a minibag
	Infuse IV over 6-10 minutes