Osmitrol Injection in Viaflex (Mannitol Injection in Viaflex Plastic Container) Drug Overview and Uses for Patients and Caregivers at RxList

Pill Identifier Search

May 27, 2012

Osmitrol in Viaflex

Glaucoma »

What is glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a disease of the major nerve of vision, called the optic nerve. The optic nerve receives light-generated nerve impulses from the retina and transmits these to the brain, where we recognize those electrical signals as vision. Glaucoma is characterized by a particular pattern of progressive damage to the optic nerve that generally begins with a subtle loss of side vision (peripheral vision). If glaucoma is not diagnosed and treated, it can progress to loss of central vision and blindness.

Glaucoma is usually, but not always, associated with elevated pressure in the eye (intraocular pressure). Generally, it is this elevated eye pressure that leads to damage of the eye (optic) nerve. In some cases, glaucoma may occur in the presence of normal eye pressure. This form of glaucoma is believed to be caused by poor regulation of blood flow to the optic nerve.

How common is glaucoma?

Worldwide, glaucoma...

Read the Glaucoma article »

« Previous
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Next »

Osmitrol Injection in Viaflex

Take the Kidney Disease Quiz

Kidney Stones Slideshow Pictures

High Blood Pressure Slideshow Pictures

font size

OSMITROL Injection
(mannitol) Injection, USP in VIAFLEX Plastic Container

For Therapeutic Use Only

DRUG DESCRIPTION

OSMITROL Injection (Mannitol Injection, USP) is a sterile, nonpyrogenic solution of Mannitol, USP in a single dose container for intravenous administration. It contains no antimicrobial agents. Mannitol** is a six carbon sugar alcohol prepared commercially by the reduction of dextrose. Although virtually inert metabolically in humans, it occurs naturally in fruits and vegetables. Mannitol is an obligatory osmotic diuretic. The pH is adjusted with sodium hydroxide or hydrochloric acid. Composition, osmolarity, and pH are shown in Table 1.

Table 1		Composition
	Size (mL)	**Mannitol, USP(g/L)	*Osmolarity (mOsmol/L) (calc)	pH
5% OSMITROL Injection (5% Mannitol Injection, USP)	1000	50	274	5.0 (4.5 TO 7.0)
10% OSMITROL Injection (10% Mannitol Injection, USP)	500	100	549	5.0 (4.5 TO 7.0)
	1000
15% OSMITROL Injection (15% Mannitol Injection, USP)	500	150	823	5.0 (4.5 TO 7.0)
20% OSMITROL Injection (20% Mannitol Injection, USP)	250	200	1098	5.0 (4.5 TO 7.0)
	500
*Normal physiologic osmolarity range is approximately 280 to 310 mOsmol/L. Administration of substantially hypertonic solutions ( > 600 mOsmol/L) may cause vein damage.

Mannitol structural formula illustration

The VIAFLEX plastic container is fabricated from a specially formulated polyvinyl chloride (PL 146 Plastic). The amount of water that can permeate from inside the container into the overwrap is insufficient to affect the solution significantly. Solutions in contact with the plastic container can leach out certain of its chemical components in very small amounts within the expiration period, e.g., di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), up to 5 parts per million. However, the safety of the plastic has been confirmed in tests in animals according to USP biological tests for plastic containers as well as by tissue culture toxicity studies.

Last reviewed on RxList: 3/4/2009
This monograph has been modified to include the generic and brand name in many instances.