Reconstituting Medicine (Changing Powdered Medicine into a Liquid)

Important information about reconstituting medicine:

• Some medicines must be stored as a powder. Before these medicines can be given, they need to be prepared as a liquid.

• Keep syringes, needles, and disposal containers in a safe place, out of the reach of children.  

• Make sure you have enough medicine and supplies. Plan for weekends and vacations. Get more medicine before your supplies run out.  

• Store medicine correctly. Check with your pharmacist to see if it can be stored at room temperature or if it needs to be refrigerated.

Instructions for reconstituting medicine:

Gather your supplies

• Vial of powdered medicine

• Vial of diluent (sterile clear liquid used to dissolve the powder)

• Syringes and needles

• Prepackaged alcohol swabs or package of cotton balls and bottle of rubbing alcohol

• Container for the disposal of used syringes and needles

Prepare the medicine

Wash and dry your hands well.

1. Remove plastic cap from diluent vial and the medicine vial.

2. Wipe the top of the diluent vial and medicine vial with alcohol swab or cotton ball dipped in alcohol. Use friction with wiping and allow to dry.

3. Attach the needle to the syringe.

4. Remove the needle cover from the needle. Do not touch any part of the needle. Pull back the plunger on the syringe until it reaches the correct line. Your nurse will show you the correct       line for your child.

5. Hold the syringe like a dart and push the needle through the top of the diluent vial. Inject    the correct amount of air into the vial. Your nurse will show you the correct amount. Turn the vial upside down with the needle still in the vial.

6. Make sure to keep the needle tip in the diluent. Withdraw the amount of diluent as you were taught.  Tap any air bubbles to the top and push the air bubble out of the syringe. Pull back again on the plunger until you have the correct amount of diluent in the syringe.

7. Do not allow the needle to touch anything. This keeps the needle sterile. Carefully inject the diluent into the medicine vial. Remove the needle from the vial and discard in sharps container.

8. Shake or roll the medicine vial until the powder in the vial becomes liquid. Review instructions provided with medicine about dissolving the powder.

9. With a new needle and syringe, insert the needle into the medicine vial and draw out the amount of medicine that you were taught. Remove any air bubbles and adjust the dose. The medicine is now ready to give. Refer to your teaching sheet on how to give the medicine.

Instructions for medicines added to an Intermate infusion device (if applicable):

1. Reconstitute the medicine immediately before use. Do not prepare doses in advance.  

2. Remove Intermate cap and place threaded side down on sterile alcohol pad.  

3. Remove and discard the needle from the syringe containing the medicine.  

4. Hold the medicine syringe by the barrel and twist onto the hub on the top of Intermate.  

5. Push plunger of syringe down to add medicine into the Intermate, twist off syringe from Intermate and discard empty syringe.  

6. Place the cap back onto the Intermate without touching the threaded side of the cap.

Reviewed August 2024 by Linda Kocent MSN, RN, NEA-BC