Today’s pearl is about how much sodium is contained in each dose of the commonly used antibiotics in the emergency department.
Many of the antibiotics we use on a daily basis in the emergency department contain a surprisingly high sodium load that may be clinically significant for some patients.
Aside from sodium chloride and sodium bicarbonate, several commonly used ED medications, namely IV antibiotics, contain a significant amount of sodium. In patients with heart failure or other conditions requiring sodium restriction, judicious use should be considered. Highlighted in yellow are the ones we use most often in the ED.
| Antibiotic | Sodium Content (mg per g) | Daily Sodium Content (mg) |
| Ampicillin | 71 | 2 g Q6H = 852 |
| Ampicillin/sulbactam | 77 | 1 g Q6H = 460 3 g Q6H = 920 |
| Metronidazole | 625 | 500 mg Q8H =938 |
| Moxifloxacin | 1,967 | 400 mg Q24H = 787 |
| Nafcillin | 58 | 2 g Q4H = 698 |
| Piperacillin/tazobactam | 64 | 3.375 g Q6H = 768 4.5 g Q6H = 1,024 |
Notes:
- Available references all quote slightly differing sodium contents. Therefore, the daily totals are approximate, but within 100 mg of the various references.
- To convert from mg to mEq or mmoL, divide by 23.
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The PharmERToxGuy 