Opioids Methadone clinic gets bulk HCl powder, IV safety question

[cebby]

I searched and could not find anything specific to my question.

My clinic gets bulk methadone HCl powder, and the on-site (compounding?) pharmacist mixes this powder into solution in large jugs, which are then dosed to patients via clear liquid. I do not know the mg/mL ratio, but it would not be hard to find out. I got this info from the head nurse, backed up by the program director.

Most places I've heard of do not do this. The liquid is clear, and as far as I was told, just the methadone HCl in saline or some other solution.

I assume my clinics' methadone is safe to IV, knowing this info. Do I assume correctly?

 

[Captain.Heroin]

It depends what is in the solution other than methadone hcl.

The idea is that they could be using a rather viscous, sugary syrup type solution to disperse the methadone in.

The best case scenario is that you can find out the inactive ingredients of your methadone solution, and then you can go to the Inactive Ingredients A to Z thread to figure out if micron filtering will render the solution safe enough to IV.

 

[cebby]

It depends what is in the solution other than methadone hcl.

The idea is that they could be using a rather viscous, sugary syrup type solution to disperse the methadone in.

The best case scenario is that you can find out the inactive ingredients of your methadone solution, and then you can go to the Inactive Ingredients A to Z thread to figure out if micron filtering will render the solution safe enough to IV.

Thanks. The solution is very bitter, and has the same viscosity as water. Definitely no sugar or sugar substitute added. I will see if I can get a list of inert ingredients.

 

[Captain.Heroin]

Thanks. The solution is very bitter, and has the same viscosity as water. Definitely no sugar or sugar substitute added. I will see if I can get a list of inert ingredients.

It is likely the bitter taste is attributable to the methadone itself.

If it is a water like consistency I would be willing to bet that any inactive ingredients would be in the solution merely to keep it homogenized or a preservative to elongate the shelf life, like benzyl alcohol.