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Vincristine: The preferred route is iv bolus over 1 to 3 min via free flowing iv however it can be given as a secondary medication over 15 to 30 minutes. It is a vesicant so there is an extravasation hazard. Here is an online resource:
Edited: Nov 27, 2009 @ 10.44pm
In Scotland and I think throughout the UK we are giving all vinca alkaloids in infusions now. This is to eliminate the risk of the drugs ever being given by the intrathecal route, which has happenned on a few occaisons with fatal consequences.
As the drug is a vesicant the nurse administering the infusion stays with the patient for the few minutes it takes to administer and flush the drug, watching the vein as if they were bolusing the drug.
Edited: Feb 27, 2010 @ 6.49am
The safest way to give any vesicant is via siderm through a freeflowing IV.
However, several years ago practice changed in response to WHO's recommendations. WHO was responding to situations where patients inadvertantly received their Vincristine doses intrathecally. WHO proposed that Vincristine be mixed in a minibag and given by IV infusion instead of via syringe. The goal was to eliminate the risk of this medication being injected intrathecally.
To reduce the risk of extravasation, the Vincristine is mixed in 50 mls IV fluid in a minibag and infused via secondary medication line. Bloood return is checked every 2 minutes but the nurse who stays with the patient throughout the entire vesicant infusion.