g Preface<br >q<br >I<br > . The 1990s are here! Our knowledge of pharmacology<br >I~ Js compounding almost daily. Man)， new drugs are beim，<br > approved for clinical use and additional research finds<br >~ new， sometimes previously contraindicated， uses for many<br > previously approved drugs We therefore felt that annual<br >I publication was an imperative step to provide heahh pro-<br > fessionals with the most up-to-date information quickly<br >I as possible， as<br > Intravenous injection has rapidly become the route of<br >D choice in most health care settings. Tile inconvenience and<br > discomfort associated with repeated intramuscular injec-<br > tions are markedly reduced aud drug absorption s con sis-<br >D tent， as contrasted with unreliable utramuscular absom-<br > ti0n in the patient with compromised peripheral perfusion.<br >D Intravenous drugs are instantly absorbed lto the blood-<br > stream， hopefully leading to a prompt therapeutic action<br >D but the risk of an inappropriate reaction is a constant<br > threat that can easily become a frightening reality.<br > In such an intense euvironnlent， beahh professionals<br > expected to administer intravenous medications ulnst ]lave<br >D an accurate， accessible， complete， aud concise reference<br > tool available to them. This sixth edition of Intravenous<br > Medications: A Handbook for Nurses and Other Allied<br > Health Personnel is that tool. All drugs presently approved<br > for intravenous use are included. In addition to new drugs，<br > all information has been revised to incorporate the most<br > current documented knowledge available.<br > The nurse is with the acutely ill hospital zed )atient 2<br > h~ursadayandisfreqtentlyr~aced ~av，，-:^- t ，4<br > situations. While ~-- . . r ， ~ a*[cty Ol ullneult<br > a~ ，，.a .i me pllySlcJau verbally requests or wr tcs<br > - uitler， the nurse must evahlate t fo" apprt priateuess，<br >1~ prepa e it a&nin ster it and observe tile effects. It will be<br > the nurse who must initiate emergency measures should<br > adverse efGcts occur. This is an awesome respousibility.<br > If after reviewing the inforlnation ill lntral，enous Medi-<br > cations: A Handbook fiat Nurses and Other Allied Health<br > ix<br >