Intravenous sugar solution

Intravenous sugar solution
	Chemical structure of dextrose
Clinical data
Other names	dextrose solution, glucose solution
AHFS/Drugs.com	Monograph
License data	US DailyMed: Dextrose_solution;
Routes of; administration	Intravenous
ATC code	B05BA03 (WHO) ;
Identifiers
ChemSpider	none;
UNII	5SL0G7R0OK;

Intravenous sugar solution, also known as dextrose solution, is a mixture of dextrose (glucose) and water.^[1] It is used to treat low blood sugar or water loss without electrolyte loss.^[2] Water loss without electrolyte loss may occur in fever, hyperthyroidism, high blood calcium, or diabetes insipidus.^[2] It is also used in the treatment of high blood potassium, diabetic ketoacidosis, and as part of parenteral nutrition.^[2] It is given by injection into a vein.^[2]

Side effects may include irritation of the vein in which it is given, high blood sugar, and swelling.^[2]^[3] Excess use may result in low blood sodium and other electrolyte problems.^[2] Intravenous sugar solutions are in the crystalloid family of medications.^[4] They come in a number of strengths including 5%, 10%, and 50% dextrose.^[2] While they may start out hypertonic they become hypotonic solutions as the sugar is metabolised.^[5] Versions are also available mixed with saline.^[3]

Dextrose solutions for medical use became available in the 1920s and 1930s.^[6]^[7] It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.^[8]

^ "Dextrose". The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Archived from the original on 18 January 2017. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g British national formulary : BNF 69 (69 ed.). British Medical Association. 2015. pp. 683–684. ISBN 9780857111562.
^ ^a ^b World Health Organization (2009). Stuart MC, Kouimtzi M, Hill SR (eds.). WHO Model Formulary 2008. World Health Organization. p. 491. hdl:10665/44053. ISBN 9789241547659.
^ David SS (2016). Clinical Pathways in Emergency Medicine. Springer. p. 62. ISBN 9788132227106. Archived from the original on 16 January 2017.
^ Waldmann C, Soni N, Rhodes A (2008). Oxford Desk Reference: Critical Care. OUP Oxford. p. 142. ISBN 9780199229581. Archived from the original on 16 January 2017.
^ Skipper A (2012). Dietitian's Handbook of Enteral and Parenteral Nutrition. Jones & Bartlett Publishers. p. 283. ISBN 9780763742904. Archived from the original on 16 January 2017.
^ Nelms M, Sucher K (2015). Nutrition Therapy and Pathophysiology. Cengage Learning. p. 89. ISBN 9781305446007. Archived from the original on 16 January 2017.
^ World Health Organization (2019). World Health Organization model list of essential medicines: 21st list 2019. Geneva: World Health Organization. hdl:10665/325771. WHO/MVP/EMP/IAU/2019.06. License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.