Dextrose (Antidote)

Dextrose (antidote) is used for acute alcohol intoxication, sulfonylurea overdose, insulin overdose, high blood potassium (hyperkalemia), and insulin induced hypoglycemia in pediatric patients.

• Dextrose (antidote) is available under the following different brand names: N/A.

Dosages of Dextrose (Antidote):

Dosage Forms and Strengths

• Intravenous (IV) solution
• D50W

Dosage Considerations – Should be Given as Follows:

Acute Alcohol Intoxication

• 25-50 g (50-100 mL of D50W solution); administer with thiamine (50-100 mg IV) to prevent Wernicke's encephalitis

Sulfonylurea Overdose

• 10-25 g (40-100 mL of D25W solution or 20-50 mL of D50W solution) IV; may require repeated boluses

Insulin Overdose

• 400-600 mg of glucose/kg/hour needed for most insulin overdoses
• Alternatively, administer 25-50 g (D50W) IV; may repeat doses in severe cases; determine glucose levels before injecting dose; in emergencies, may administer promptly before obtaining glucose results

Hyperkalemia

• 25-50 g (250-500 mL D10W) plus 10 units regular insulin IV over 30-60 min

Insulin Induced Hypoglycemia

• Children under 6 months: 250-500 mg/kg/dose (1-2 mL/kg/dose D25W)  
• Children over 6 months: 0.5-1g/kg/dose (2-4 mL/kg/dose D25W)

Side effects of dextrose (antidote) include:

• Possibility of intracellular lactic acid production in the setting of ischemic brain cells and high blood sugar (hyperglycemia)
• Low blood potassium (hypokalemia)
• Fluid retention (edema)
• High or low blood volume (hyper/hypovolemia)
• Dehydration
• Fever
• Mental confusion
• Unconsciousness
• Ketones in urine (ketonuria)
• Glucose in urine (glycosuria)
• Excessive urination
• Phlebitis
• Venous thrombosis
• Metabolic acidosis
• Diarrhea
• Excessive thirst
• Vein irritation
• Pulmonary edema/rapid breathing
• Extravasation can result in tissue damage

This document does not contain all possible side effects and others may occur. Check with your physician for additional information about side effects.

If your doctor has directed you to use this medication, your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor, health care provider, or pharmacist first.

• Dextrose (antidote) has no listed severe interactions with other drugs.
• Dextrose (antidote) has no listed serious interactions with other drugs.
• Moderate interactions of dextrose (antidote) include:
  • dichlorphenamide
• Mild interactions of dextrose (antidote) include:
  • magnesium chloride
  • magnesium citrate
  • magnesium hydroxide
  • magnesium sulfate

This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist. Check with your physician if you have health questions or concerns.

Warnings

• This medication contains dextrose (antidote). Do not take dextrose (antidote) if you are allergic to dextrose (antidote) or any ingredients contained in this drug.
• Keep out of reach of children. In case of overdose, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center immediately.

Contraindications

• No information available

Effects of Drug Abuse

• No information available

Short-Term Effects

• See "What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Dextrose (Antidote)?”

Long-Term Effects

• See "What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Dextrose (Antidote)?”

Cautions

• No information available

Pregnancy and Lactation

• There is no information available regarding the use of dextrose (antidote) during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Consult your doctor.