What is the recommended dilution for 1 gm of terlipressin (glypressin) for intravenous administration?

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Terlipressin Reconstitution and Dilution

Reconstitute each 0.85 mg vial of terlipressin with 5 mL of 0.9% sodium chloride injection (normal saline) immediately before use. 1

Standard Reconstitution Protocol

  • Each single-dose vial containing 0.85 mg of terlipressin as lyophilized powder must be reconstituted with exactly 5 mL of 0.9% sodium chloride injection USP 1
  • The reconstituted solution should be administered intravenously through a peripheral line 2
  • After administration, flush the IV line to ensure complete delivery of the dose 1
  • Discard any unused portion after reconstitution, as the vials are preservative-free and intended for single-dose use only 1

Dosing Considerations for 1 gram (1000 mg)

  • Important caveat: The question asks about diluting "1 gm" (1000 mg) of terlipressin, but this represents an extraordinarily high dose that far exceeds any recommended therapeutic regimen 2, 3, 1
  • Standard therapeutic doses range from 0.85 mg to a maximum of 12 mg per day, making 1 gram approximately 83-1176 times the typical daily dose 2, 3, 1
  • If the intent is to prepare multiple doses from bulk supply, each 0.85 mg vial should be reconstituted individually as needed, rather than preparing a large batch 1

Administration Method

  • Terlipressin can be administered either as intermittent IV boluses every 4-6 hours or as continuous IV infusion 2, 3, 4
  • For bolus administration: reconstitute each vial with 5 mL normal saline and administer the entire contents intravenously 1
  • For continuous infusion: the starting dose is typically 2 mg/day, which would require reconstituting multiple vials and adding them to an appropriate volume of compatible IV fluid 2, 3, 4
  • Continuous infusion has been shown to cause fewer adverse events (35% vs 62%) compared to bolus dosing while maintaining similar efficacy 4

Storage and Handling

  • Store unreconstituted vials refrigerated at 2°C to 8°C (36°F to 46°F) in the original carton to protect from light 1
  • Use immediately after reconstitution, as the product contains no preservatives 1

References

Guideline

Guideline Directed Topic Overview

Dr.Oracle Medical Advisory Board & Editors, 2025

Guideline

Terlipressin Infusion Dosing for Hepatorenal Syndrome

Praxis Medical Insights: Practical Summaries of Clinical Guidelines, 2026

Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

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