Refrigerated meds

[HILLBILLY70]

We are currently using Succinylcholine and Zemuron as paralytics for RSI, which require refrigeration or they "expire" within a few weeks. We are using plug in coolers available for autos, but they do not quite seem to work as well as we would like, especially in the summer. Does anyone else have this problem or a possible solution? Thanks

[Medicman315]

At one point we carried Succinylcholine and we debated that point and determined that if we stored them at HQ in a refrigerator, and then rotated them every 30 days that the short expiration period would be fine, well that was short lived and the drugs were pulled completely out of the protocols and now we have nothing in the way of paralytics.

[MM187]

Check with your pharmacy. We also carry Zemuron, and had similar concerns. The hospital pharmacy told us that if left at room temp. Zemuron would lose only a small fraction of its potency, before its expiration date. We carry Versed instead of Sucs.

[Robert P Jorgensen]

We're carring Ativan for seizures and have the same problems. Long expiration as long as they are refrigerated, otherwise and we do waste a lot of Ativan every 30 days.

We thought about the coolers but just don't have the room. I guess we all need to sart specing rigs with built in AC/DC refrigerators if they make them.

[FIREMEDIC BILL]

It is great to have certain drugs to assist you in ET. However, it does not seem practical to have refrig. meds in EMS as you are probably seeing now. We carry versed to assist in ET, and have had great results.

Be safe.




------------------
FIREMEDIC BILL JENNINGS
GWINNETT FIRE/GRAYSON GA.
STATION 8-B SHIFT
ENGINE AND MED 8

[bgreen]

we carry succs , and rotate them on 30 bases as well as norcuron and it works well . no problems.

[firejunkie99]

hey hillbilly, i read your concerns, if it helps you any I will tell you what we have onboard our trucks. We carry norcuron, which does not have to be refrigerated. We also carry versed for sedation as well. have not used the norcuron as of yet due to the versed alone sedating pts so well they tolerate intubation, up to 30 minutes.


Kevin
Paramedic
Indiana

[skymedic]

How 'bout each shift getting allocated a stock of paralytics for road use. When you come on shift, pack the drugs in a 6 pack cooler with an ice pack. If you use them during the shift - OK, if not, It's back to the fridge for the drugs and freezer for the ice pack till the next shift!
I've found the Coleman Cooler boxes to be excellent where insulation was concerned.