PHARMACOLOGY

 Indications ::

Intravenous injection is indicated in following conditions ::

1.In emergency (Indications for intravenous noradrenaline in shock or digoxin in cardiac failure) 

2.To maintain blood pH (sodium lactate in acidosis ) 

3. To restore blood volume (blood transfusion) 

4.To maintain normal blood coagulability (heparin as anticoagulant and vitamin K to promote coagulation 

5.Chemotherapeutic drugs (antibiotics and antitoxic sera in microbial toxaemia of the blood ) 

6.Selective swift route to avoid decomposition and irritation (diluted quinine in cerebral malaria )

7.For general anaesthesia (intravenous injection of pentothal sodium ) 

8.For sclerosing veins (quinine and urethane in varicose veins )

9.For diagnostic purposes (tetra-iodo-phenolphthalein in gall bladder investigation ) 

            There are certain circumstances when intravenous therapy is contraindicated e.g. insoluble suspensions oily injections acidic solutions highly irritant drugs and faulty technique with air bubbles in the injection All these may prove fatal Thus intravenous therapy is a double edged sword The route is to be used only when it is a highly essential or emergency situation Further all drugs cannot be administered by intravenous route