Glucose (dextrose)

Question 1

What is it indicated for?

Answer 1

To provide water for people unable to meet their water requirements orally

Severe hypoglycaemia

Substrate fluid in people receiving IV insulin infusions

With Insulin to treat hyperkalaemia

Reconstitution of drugs

Question 2

What are the side effects of this drug?

Answer 2

Glucose 50% is highly irritant to veins and may cause local pain, phlebitis and thrombosis

Hypergylcaemia will occur if glucose administration exceeds its utilisation.

Question 3

What are the warnings of this drug?

Answer 3

IV glucose in thiamine deficiency can cause Wernicke’s encephalopathy.

Renal failure closely monitor fluid balance

Administering hypotonic fluid in hyponatraemia may cause hyponatraemic encephalopathy.

Question 4

What do you give to patients that are having glucose for hypogylcaemia?

Answer 4

Also give thiamine as Pabrinex

Question 5

What are the potential interactions of this drug?

Answer 5

Insulin and glucose have antagonistic effects but are often administered together. Rate of glucose infusion should be kept constant unless treatment for hypoglycaemia