Mosby's 2014 Nursing Drug Reference (388 page)

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Visually inspect parenteral products for particulate matter and discoloration before use

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To reconstitute, inject 2.1 ml sterile water for inj into the 2-mg vial; use syringe with needle already attached; to avoid foaming, push plunger in slowly with needle on a slight angle so sterile water goes down the inside wall of vial; with needle and syringe attached to vial, keep vial upright and gently roll vial for 30 sec until mixed; do not shake; withdraw 2.1 ml of the reconstituted sol

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To administer, take syringe out of vial, place needle cap on its side against a clean flat surface, do not touch needle, hold syringe and slide needle into cap, push cap all the way or until it snaps shut; do not touch cap until it covers needle completely; remove needle, insert a 0.5 inch 27-G safety injection needle onto syringe; use immediately; throw away any unused product or used sterile water for inj, sol should be clear, do not use if discolored, cloudy, or has particles; slight foaming is acceptable; inject subcut into abdomen; avoid scar tissues, bruises, or navel; rotate inj sites in abdomen; slowly push plunger down until all sol has been injected

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After removing needle from skin, flip back needle shield until it snaps, covering the injection needle completely; keep pressing until you hear a click, which means the injection needle is protected

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Use a piece of sterile gauze to rub the inj site clean; if bleeding, apply pressure to site with gauze for 30 sec; if bleeding continues, apply a bandage to site

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Properly dispose of used syringe, needles, vial, and sterile water for injection bottle in a sharps container

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Do not chew or swallow buccal system

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Rotate sites; place above incisor tooth on either side of mouth

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Open packet; place rounded side of surface against gum and hold firmly in place with finger over lip for 30 sec; if product falls off, replace with new system; discard in trash can away from children or pets

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Using the provided applicator, apply the solution to clean, dry, intact skin of the axilla, preferably at the same time each morning; do not apply to any other part of the body; allow the solution to dry completely before dressing; if an antiperspirant or deodorant is used, apply at least 2 min before applying the solution; the pump must be primed before the first use by fully depressing the pump mechanism 3×, discard any solution that is released during the priming; to dispense the solution, position the nozzle over the applicator cup and carefully depress the pump once fully; the cup should be filled with no more than 1 pump actuation (30 mg); with the applicator upright, place it up into the axilla and wipe steadily down and up into the axilla; do not use fingers or hand to rub the solution; if multiple applications are necessary for the required dose, alternate application between the left and right axilla; when repeat application to the same axilla is necessary, allow the solution to dry completely before the next application; after use, rinse the applicator under running water and pat dry with tissue; wash hands with soap and water

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Following application, allow the site to dry before putting on clothing

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Direct contact of the medicated skin with the skin of another person can result in the transfer of residual testosterone and absorption by the other person;
to reduce accidental transfer, the patient should cover the application site(s) with clothing (eg, a T-shirt) after the solution has dried; the application site should be washed with soap and water prior to any skin-to-skin contact regardless of the length of time since application; in the case of direct contact, the other person should wash the area of contact with soap and water as soon as possible

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Patients should be advised that the topical solution is flammable; therefore, fire, flame, and smoking should be avoided during use

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Advise patients to avoid swimming or washing the application site until 2 hr following application of solution