How to prepare an antibiotic powder into liquid medication

Information for parents and carers

Pharmacy

This information is about how to make up the bottle of antibiotic medication that your child has been prescribed. Preparing this type of medicine involves mixing water with the antibiotic powder to produce a liquid medicine.

Are you allergic to any antibiotics?

If you are allergic to antibiotics, do not open any of the dry powder bottles to make up this medicine. It is possible that you might breathe in small amounts of the medicine when mixing it (in very small quantities). If you are allergic to antibiotics, ask for advice from your pharmacist, doctor or nurse.

Why have I been given medicine to make up at home?

When this medicine is mixed with water, it has a short amount of time before it can no longer be used (its expiry date). The first bottle of medicine will not last for the total number of days’ treatment (or course) required for your child.

To complete the course of treatment, you will need to make up another bottle using cooled boiled 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

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 powdered medicine gently, to loosen the powder
Using the measuring syringe provided to you, draw up the amount of cooled boiled water needed (which is written on the label on the bottle), and squeeze it into the bottle. Put the cap of the bottle back on.
Shake the bottle until you can no longer see any separate powder
Check the bottom of the bottle to check no powder is stuck
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.
Please ensure that you shake the bottle well before each use.
Complete the course as instructed. If there is any medicine left over, take it to your local pharmacy for them to get rid of.

What if I can’t make up the medicine?

If you can’t make up the medicine contact the Children’s Assessment Unit and they will arrange for a supply to be prepared for collection from the hospital.

Contact us

If you need further advice, please contact the Children’s Assessment Unit on 01709 424049.

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