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The introduction of a preprinted order form for investigational drugs prevents potential medication errors and contributes to patients' safety.

Introduction. A cytotoxic drug reconstitution sys tem generates a saving in drugs due to a reduction in drug wastage by reusing partly used vials. We con ducted a study at a 1900-bed Hospital Medical Center and we compared, from January to June 1995, cyto toxic drug cost reduction due to a centralized system with data obtained by handling preparation in an uncon trolled environment. Method. Partially used vials were reused based on our stability and sterility procedures. For the reconstitution in the centralized unit, high dosages of cytostatics were preferentially used, while for the handling preparation in an uncontrolled environment high and low dosages of cytostatics were used and selected according to the prescriptions. Results. A total of 1127 courses were evaluated corresponding to 3743 preparations. The average saving of the drug acquisition cost was $21,287, ie, 9.2% of the cytotoxic acquisition cost during the 6 months of the study period. Conclusion. The use of stability data in a cen tralized system (isolator) leads to a decrease in the cost of chemotherapy treatment compared with handling preparation in an uncontrolled environ ment.

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Ondansetron 0.16 mg/mL (as the hydrochloride) and methylprednisolone 2.4 mg/mL (as the sodium succinate) mixed in 50-mL multilayer polyolefin bags were stable in both 5% dextrose injection and 0.9% sodium chloride injection for up to 24 hours at 20-25 degrees C and up to 48 hours at 4-8 degrees C.