Health Professionals

30 Oct.,2023

 

Using syringe drivers

Related Resources

  • CareSearch GP Hub - Syringe Drivers
  • palliAGED Evidence Summary - Syringe Drivers
  • palliAGED Symptoms and Medicines - Subcutaneous medicine administration

Syringe Drivers are small portable (usually battery-operated) devices used to administer medications in palliative care. A single drug, or more often a combination of drugs, is given via a slow continuous subcutaneous infusion to help control symptoms when other routes of administration are no longer viable, feasible or preferred.

Common indications for use of syringe drivers in palliative care include:

  • dysphagia
  • intractable nausea
  • intractable vomiting
  • poor enteral (gut) absorption of oral medications
  • weakness or altered level of consciousness.

Why it matters

The portability of syringe driver and suitability for all clinical settings are advantages to this means of administering medicines. This can remove or diminish the need for intramuscular or intravenous injections. As syringe drivers provide a constant level of medicine, the plasma concentration remains at the optimum therapeutic level with no peaks or troughs.

In practice

Syringe drivers can be used intermittently or discontinued if symptoms can later be managed by the oral route. If the person is able to move around, they might find it helpful to have a syringe driver bag to keep it safe and in a comfortable position.

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