Oct 19, 2017
Melissa asked
I'm an RN. Is there a certain amount of saline you need to flush with after a Remicade infusion?
Answer
The amount of saline used to flush Remicade (infliximab) after infusion will vary per practitioner and practice. The manufacturer of Remicade does not recommend a certain amount of saline to be flushed and relies on the facility that is performing the administration of the drug to use the correct amount.
Most commonly, the amount of saline used to flush Remicade after an IV infusion is 20 to 50 ml Normal Saline 0.9%, depending on line type. Below are the full instructions commonly used for the IV Remicade infusion:
Intravenous Infusion Administration
- Prior to IV infusion, premedication may be administered at the prescriber's discretion. Premedication could include antihistamines, acetaminophen and/or corticosteroids.
- The IV infusion should begin within 3 hours of reconstitution and dilution.
- Do not administer the solution if visibly opaque particles, discoloration, or other foreign particles are observed.
- Do not infuse the infliximab solution concomitantly in the same intravenous line with other agents.
- Flush line with Normal Saline 0.9% 3-10 ml before infusion.
- Infuse IV over a period of not less than 2 hours. Use an infusion set with an in-line, sterile, non-pyrogenic, low-protein-binding filter (pore size of 1.2 microns or less). Discard any unused portion.
- Flush line with Normal Saline 0.9% 20-50 ml after infusion to clear line of active drug
