cloudy appearance of meds in syringe?

[dminton]

For some reason, when I draw up my instill meds, it's clear in the syringe with just the marcaine and lidocaine, but when I add the bicarb, it gets cloudy. It's happened with two, unopened bottles that have not expired. I was taught as a nurse to never give a patient an injection or IV if the meds are cloudy. Has anyone had this happen? I will try calling my uro's office tomorrow, but they are hard to get through to and I'd like to see if anyone else knows about this. Thanks.

[L. Thomas]

It happens to me sometimes and it is when I put the sodium bicarbonate in the syringe. It happens when air gets into the syringe while I am pulling the syringe back...sort of like when you shake up a coke. Ask your MD about it. Mine says not to worry. I only use 2cc of sodium bicarbonate so I have to use the bottle 25 times. With that many sticks air gets mixed in. If you let the syringe set for a while it will clear up.

[dminton]

THANK YOU! I don't know what I'd do without this site! I decided to save the prepared cath in the fridge overnight in a plastic baggie in case it cleared, and it did. Does the bicarb just make the lidocaine sting less? Is there another purpose for it?

[L. Thomas]

Be sure to let the cocktail warm up to room temp before you instill.. I understand that can be "breath taking".

I understand that the sodium bicarbonate allows the instill to be infused into the bladder lining better. Actually my uorgyne told me that I could leave it out if I wanted. It cost 3X as much as the lidocaine and heparin (on my insurance pian)