This information is about how to reconstitute (or make up) a bottle of medicine. It is for patients, parents or carers who are required to give medicine and it contains information about how to make up the bottle of medicine you have been given.
Are YOU allergic to any antibiotics?
Do not open any of the dry powder bottles if you are allergic to antibiotics, ask for advice from your pharmacist, doctor or nurse.
It is possible that you might breathe in small amounts of the medicine when mixing (in very small quantities).
Why have I been given medicine to make up at home?
You or your child requires medicine for a length of time which the nurse or doctor will tell you (this will also be on the medicine label). When this medicine is mixed with water, it has a short amount of time before it has to be used up (expiry date), which will not last for the total number of days’ treatment (or course) required for you or your child.
To complete the course of treatment, you will need to make up the bottle using water at home.
How do I make up the medicine?
If you have been given a bottle of the medicine, which has been made up for you, use that one first. When it finishes, or the use-by-date (expiry date) has passed (whichever comes first), make up the next bottle following the instructions on the bottle.
Instructions
- You will need to boil tap water and let it cool down to room temperature.
- Wash your hands well with soap and water before beginning.
- Shake the bottle containing the medicine gently, to loosen the powder.
- Using the measuring syringe provided by the ward staff, draw up the amount of water needed (which is on the label on the bottle), and squeeze it into the bottle. Put the cap of the bottle back on.
- Shake the bottle until all the powder has disappeared.
- Check the bottom of the bottle to ensure no powder remains.
Once the bottle has been made up, it will have a short expiry date and it may need to be stored in the fridge. Check the label on the bottle for the expiry date and whether it has any storage requirements. Write the date that you added the water onto the label in the blank space provided; this will help you to check when the medicine has to be used up by.
Complete the course as instructed. If there is any medicine left over, take it to your local pharmacy for them to get rid of it.
What if I can’t make up the medicine?
If you can’t make up the medicine, let a pharmacist, nurse or doctor know. You may be provided with a prescription for the remaining medicine that you can collect from your local pharmacy (chemist).
Contact us
If you need further advice, please contact:
