Hi lkc1981 -
I have used both - syringe and pump (ball). I've used the syringe for Rocephin but using a pump for vanco.
When I started the Rocephin, the nurses were pushing 1g at about
a 5 min. pace, as directed, and I had pretty obvious reactions (eyes would get itchy and I would get agitated). They wanted me to add in Benadryl, which I did at first. But then I started experimenting on my own and simply
slowed down the push to 15 min. and eliminated all reactions and not needed any Benadryl (and was a little annoyed that the nurses didn't suggest that in the first place rather than pushing more meds). I'm up to 2g and can still push in about
15 min.
I love the pump balls, though… they are mostly convenient - you just plug in and go about
your business and don't have to worry about
pace or reactions. I also had trouble with painful joint/muscle movement in my hands and pushing on a syringe slowly over a period of time was painful.
Pharmacist started me out w/ a 60-min. pump regulator and it was still too fast so we shifted it to a 90-minute regulator. A few months later I was able to go back down to the 60-minute regulator. But drawbacks from the pump include having to wear it if you move around (I would often forget and walk away from the table the ball was perched upon, yanking the pump and in turn, yanking on the catheter that goes into the IV needle, and started having trouble w/ the IV needle because I'd bent it or compromised the catheter somehow.)
But if you're asking if it's OK to push more quickly, it is, the Rocephin will work the same way, and the only issue might be any sensitivity you have but you can still control how quickly you push. The syringes are much cheaper but if you want, ask them to switch to the pumps and see if they'll do it.
-p
Post Edited (Pirouette) : 4/7/2017 4:25:01 PM (GMT-6)