The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 270 No 7236 p228
15 February 2003

This page
Reprint
Photocopy

PDF* 90K

  OFT report
  Supermarket pharmacy
  PSNC
  Community pharmacy
  Practice pharmacists
  Dispensing
  Hospital pharmacy
  Insulin labelling
  Emergency boxes
  Advertising
  Locum pay
  Medication errors
  The Profession
  The Society
  Council election

Letters to the Editor

Emergency boxes

Is IM diazepam suitable for use in emergencies?

From Mr K. R. Smith, MRPharmS

Dental emergency boxes in our trust used to contain diazepam rectal solution. The proposal now is that that should be changed to diazepam intramuscular injection. But dentists are not considered adequately trained to give Diazemuls intravenously so that is not an option. The rectal solution has apparently raised concerns over potential accusations of abuse, following its use in an emergency situation.

The intramuscular injection seems a practical proposition, except that, as far as I am aware, it precipitates in the muscle and diazepam reaches the general circulation slowly, and presumably in relatively lower concentrations. This would seem to make it entirely unsuitable for use in an emergency.

Can anyone shed any light on what is happening in their areas, and whether my concern is justified, or can a pharmacology expert tell me that although onset of action is slow IM diazepam would be effective?

 Kevin Smith
Brecon, Powys

Send your letter to The Editor

Previous Topic (Insulin labelling)
Next Topic (Advertising)