IV Fluid Safety
full update April 2025
The FAQ below answers common questions about safely using IV fluids.
| 
             Clinical Question  | 
            
             Answer/Pertinent Information  | 
        ||
| 
             What is meant by “isotonic” and “isosmotic?”  | 
            
            
  | 
        ||
| 
             What is the approximate osmolarity of some common IV fluids?  | 
            
             The osmolarity of IV solutions is usually printed on the bag. The bag might also state that the solution is isotonic, hypertonic, or hypotonic/hemolytic. Here are some examples of approximate osmolarities of common IV fluids: Isosmotic/Isotonic: 
 Hypoosmotic/Hypotonic: 
 Very Hypoosmotic/Hypotonic 
 Hyperosmotic/Hypertonic: 
  | 
        ||
| 
             What is considered an isotonic fluid, and when is it used?  | 
            
            
  | 
        ||
| 
             How do the isotonic solutions (e.g., normal saline, Lactated Ringer’s) compare?  | 
            
             Fluid/ cost per litera  | 
            
             Balanced Fluids (not all-inclusive) (LR [~$5], Isolyte S pH 7.4 [<$10], Normosol-R [~$5], Plasma-Lyte A [~$15])  | 
            
             Normal saline  | 
        
| 
             Compositionb  | 
            
             Balanced Fluids Electrolytes (for products listed above): 
 Buffers (may contain one or more of the following): 
  | 
            
             Normal saline Electrolytes 
  | 
        |
| 
             Preferred Indications or Potential Benefits  | 
            
             Balanced Fluids 
  | 
            
             Normal saline 
  | 
        |
| 
             When to Avoid Use, or Possible Complications  | 
            
             Balanced Fluids 
  | 
            
             Normal saline 
  | 
        |
| 
             Use in Patients with Kidney or Liver Impairment  | 
            
             Balanced Fluids 
  | 
            
             Normal Saline 
  | 
        |
| 
             Impact on Potassium Levels  | 
            
             Balanced Fluids 
  | 
            
             Normal Saline 
  | 
        |
| 
             What are the concerns with hypotonic solutions, or D5W?  | 
            
            
  | 
        ||
| 
             What can be done to reduce harm associated with hypotonic solutions?  | 
            
            
  | 
        ||
| 
             When might a sodium-free (D5W) or lower-sodium solution be appropriate?  | 
            
            
  | 
        ||
| 
             What are some concepts regarding safe use of hypertonic solutions?  | 
            
            
  | 
        ||
| 
             What steps can be taken to ensure that patients don’t receive unnecessary IV fluids?  | 
            
            
  | 
        ||
Abbreviations: AKI = acute kidney injury; D5W = dextrose 5% in water; D10W = dextrose 10% in water; DKA = diabetic ketoacidosis; GI = gastrointestinal; IV = intravenous; KVO = keep vein open; LOS = length of stay; LR = Lactated Ringer’s; NNT = number needed to treat; NS = normal saline; TBI = traumatic brain injury
- US wholesale acquisition cost (WAC). Medication pricing by Elsevier, accessed April 2025.
 - Information from US product labeling unless otherwise indicated: Dextrose solution (Baxter Healthcare, November 2024), Dextrose solution (B. Braun Medical, March 2024), Lactated Ringer’s (Baxter, March 2025); Isolyte S pH 7.4 (July2018); Normosol-R (October 2018); Plasma-Lyte A (August 2019); sodium chloride 0.9% injection (Baxter, March 2018).
 
Levels of Evidence
In accordance with our goal of providing Evidence-Based information, we are citing the LEVEL OF EVIDENCE for the clinical recommendations we publish.
| 
             Level  | 
            
             Definition  | 
            
             Study Quality  | 
        
| 
             A  | 
            
             Good-quality patient-oriented evidence.*  | 
            
            
  | 
        
| 
             B  | 
            
             Inconsistent or limited-quality patient-oriented evidence.*  | 
            
            
  | 
        
| 
             C  | 
            
             Consensus; usual practice; expert opinion; disease-oriented evidence (e.g., physiologic or surrogate endpoints); case series for studies of diagnosis, treatment, prevention, or screening.  | 
        |
*Outcomes that matter to patients (e.g., morbidity, mortality, symptom improvement, quality of life).
[Adapted from Ebell MH, Siwek J, Weiss BD, et al. Strength of Recommendation Taxonomy (SORT): a patient-centered approach to grading evidence in the medical literature. Am Fam Physician 2004;69:548-56. https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2004/0201/p548.html.]
References
- Tommasino C. Fluids and the neurosurgical patient. Anesthesiol Clin North Am. 2002 Jun;20(2):329-46, vi.
 - ISMP. Plain D5W or hypotonic saline solutions post-op could result in acute hyponatremia and death in healthy children. October 1, 2009. https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/710427 (Accessed April1, 2025).
 - Sterile water should not be given “freely.” Pennsylvania Patient Safety Advisory. 2008;5(2):52-6. https://patientsafety.pa.gov/ADVISORIES/Pages/200806_53.aspx. (Accessed April 1, 2025).
 - Myburgh JA, Mythen MG. Resuscitation fluids. N Engl J Med. 2013 Sep 26;369(13):1243-51.
 - Moritz ML, Ayus JC. Hospital-acquired hyponatremia--why are hypotonic parenteral fluids still being used? Nat Clin Pract Nephrol. 2007 Jul;3(7):374-82.
 - Khasiyev F, Hakoun A, Christopher K, et al. Safety and Effect on Intracranial Pressure of 3% Hypertonic Saline Bolus Via Peripheral Intravenous Catheter for Neurological Emergencies. Neurocrit Care. 2024 Aug;41(1):202-207.
 - Crawford A, Harris H. I.V. fluids What nurses need to know. Nursing. 2011 May;41(5):30-8; quiz 38-9.
 - National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Intravenous fluid therapy in adults in hospital. December 10, 2013. Updated May 5, 2017. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg174/chapter/1-Recommendations#routine-maintenance-2. (Accessed April 1, 2025).
 - Gosmanov AR, Gosmanova EO, Dillard-Cannon E. Management of adult diabetic ketoacidosis. Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes. 2014 Jun 30;7:255-64.
 - ISMP. 2024-2025 ISMP Targeted medication safety best practices for hospitals. https://www.ismp.org. (Accessed April 1, 2025).
 - Toporek AH, Semler MW, Self WH, et al. Balanced Crystalloids versus Saline in Critically Ill Adults with Hyperkalemia or Acute Kidney Injury: Secondary Analysis of a Clinical Trial. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2021 May 15;203(10):1322-1325.
 - Huskisson L. Intravenous volume replacement: which fluid and why? Arch Dis Child. 1992 May;67(5):649-53.
 - Dickerson RN, Maish GO 3rd, Weinberg JA, et al. Safety and efficacy of intravenous hypotonic 0.225% sodium chloride infusion for the treatment of hypernatremia in critically ill patients. Nutr Clin Pract. 2013 Jun;28(3):400-8.
 - Metheny, Norma A. PhD, RN, FAAN; Moritz, Michael L. MD. Administration of 3% Sodium Chloride Via a Peripheral Vein: A Literature Review. Journal of Infusion Nursing 44(2):p 94-102, March/April 2021.
 - Wang J, Xu E, Xiao Y. Isotonic versus hypotonic maintenance IV fluids in hospitalized children: a meta-analysis. Pediatrics. 2014 Jan;133(1):105-13.
 - How PP, Lau AH Fluid and electrolyte disorders. In: Zeind CS, Carvalho MG, Cheng JW, et al., editors. Applied Therapeutics: the Clinical Use of Drugs. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer Health, 2023:602-31.
 - Patanwala AE, Amini A, Erstad BL. Use of hypertonic saline injection in trauma. Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2010 Nov 15;67(22):1920-8.
 - Rowell SE, Fair KA, Barbosa RR, et al. The Impact of Pre-Hospital Administration of Lactated Ringer's Solution versus Normal Saline in Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury. J Neurotrauma. 2016 Jun 1;33(11):1054-9.
 - Mhanna A, Beran A, Srour O, et al. Balanced crystalloids versus isotonic saline in pediatric sepsis: a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis. Proc (Bayl Univ Med Cent). 2024 Feb 8;37(2):295-302.
 - Self WH, Semler MW, Wanderer JP, et al. Balanced Crystalloids versus Saline in Noncritically Ill Adults. N Engl J Med. 2018 Mar 1;378(9):819-828.
 - Product monograph for 3% and 5% sodium chloride injection, USP. Baxter Corporation. Mississauga, ON L5N 0C2. July 2018.
 - ISMP. Best practice #10 FAQ. August 29, 2016. https://www.ismp.org. (Accessed July 29, 2022).
 - Erstad BL, Huckleberry YC. Extremely hypo-osmolar intravenous solutions to treat hypernatremia: the time has come to stop. Am J Health Syst Pharm 2022 Jun 23;79(13):1122-1125.
 - Hasim N, Bakar MAA, Islam MA. Efficacy and Safety of Isotonic and Hypotonic Intravenous Maintenance Fluids in Hospitalised Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials. Children (Basel). 2021 Sep 8;8(9):785.
 - Hall AM, Ayus JC, Moritz ML. Things We Do For No Reason: The Default Use of Hypotonic Maintenance Intravenous Fluids in Pediatrics. J Hosp Med. 2018 Sep;13(9):637-640.
 - Silverthorn DU. Isosmotic is not always isotonic: the five-minute version. Adv Physiol Educ. 2016 Dec;40(4):499-500.
 - Choo WP, Groeneveld AB, Driessen RH, Swart EL. Normal saline to dilute parenteral drugs and to keep catheters open is a major and preventable source of hypernatremia acquired in the intensive care unit. J Crit Care. 2014 Jun;29(3):390-4.
 - Ostermann M, Randolph AG. Resuscitation Fluid Composition and Acute Kidney Injury in Critical Illness. N Engl J Med. 2022 Mar 3;386(9):888-889.
 - Semler MW, Self WH, Wanderer JP, et al. Balanced Crystalloids versus Saline in Critically Ill Adults. N Engl J Med. 2018 Mar 1;378(9):829-839.
 - Aoyagi Y, Yoshida T, Uchino S, et al. Saline versus 5% dextrose in water as a drug diluent for critically ill patients: a retrospective cohort study. J Intensive Care. 2020 Sep 11;8:69.
 - Clinical Pharmacology powered by Clinical Key. Tampa, FL: Elsevier; 2025. https://www.clinicalkey.com. (Accessed April 1, 2025).
 - Sanchez J, Lichtenberg R. Does my patient need maintenance fluids? Cleve Clin J Med. 2019 Oct;86(10):653-655.
 - Kraft MD, Btaiche IF, Sacks GS, Kudsk KA. Treatment of electrolyte disorders in adult patients in the intensive care unit. Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2005 Aug 15;62(16):1663-82.
 - Hawkins WA, Smith SE, Newsome AS, et al. Fluid Stewardship During Critical Illness: A Call to Action. J Pharm Pract. 2020 Dec;33(6):863-873.
 - Hawkins WA, Butler SA, Poirier N, et al. From theory to bedside: Implementation of fluid stewardship in a medical ICU pharmacy practice. Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2022 Jun 7;79(12):984-992.
 - Finfer S, Micallef S, Hammond N, et al. Balanced Multielectrolyte Solution versus Saline in Critically Ill Adults. N Engl J Med. 2022 Mar 3;386(9):815-826.
 - Zampieri FG, Machado FR, Biondi RS, et al. Effect of Intravenous Fluid Treatment With a Balanced Solution vs 0.9% Saline Solution on Mortality in Critically Ill Patients: The BaSICS Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2021 Aug 10;326(9):1–12.
 - Carr JR, Hawkins WA, Newsome AS, et al. Fluid Stewardship of Maintenance Intravenous Fluids. J Pharm Pract. 2021 Apr 8:8971900211008261.
 - Madieh J, Hasan B, Khamayseh I, et al. The safety of intravenous peripheral administration of 3% hypertonic saline: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Med Sci. 2023 Aug;366(2):135-142.
 - Brown CS, Rabinstein AA, Zhao Y, Wieruszewski ED. Safety of peripheral 3% hypertonic saline bolus administration for neurologic emergency. Am J Emerg Med. 2023 Jul;69:83-86.
 - Emrath ET, Fortenberry JD, Travers C, et al. Resuscitation With Balanced Fluids Is Associated With Improved Survival in Pediatric Severe Sepsis. Crit Care Med. 2017 Jul;45(7):1177-1183.
 - Diz JC, Luna-Rojas P, Díaz-Vidal P, et al. Effect of Treatment With Balanced Crystalloids Versus Normal Saline on the Mortality of Critically Ill Patients With and Without Traumatic Brain Injury: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Anesth Analg. 2025 Jan 20.
 - Tenner S, Vege SS, Sheth SG, et al. American College of Gastroenterology Guidelines: Management of Acute Pancreatitis. Am J Gastroenterol. 2024 Mar 1;119(3):419-437.
 - Farrell PR, DesPain AW, Farmer P, et al. Faster discharge with lactated ringers than normal saline in first 72 hof acute pancreatitis: A multicenter randomized trial. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2024 Feb;78(2):360-368.
 - Chen H, Lu X, Xu B, et al. Lactated Ringer Solution Is Superior to Normal Saline Solution in Managing Acute Pancreatitis: An Updated Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. J Clin Gastroenterol. 2022 Feb 1;56(2):e114-e120.
 - Antoniak D, Twohig P, Olson K, et al. Lactated Ringer's or Normal Saline for Initial Resuscitation in Patients Hospitalized With Acute Pancreatitis: A Retrospective Database Analysis. Pancreas. 2023 Mar 1;52(3):e203-e209.
 - Evans L, Rhodes A, Alhazzani W, et al. Surviving Sepsis Campaign: International Guidelines for Management of Sepsis and Septic Shock 2021. Crit Care Med. 2021 Nov 1;49(11):e1063-e1143.
 - Umpierrez GE, Davis GM, ElSayed NA, et al. Hyperglycemic Crises in Adults With Diabetes: A Consensus Report. Diabetes Care. 2024 Aug 1;47(8):1257-1275.
 - ISMP Canada. ISMP Canada Safety Bulletin. Reducing the Risk of Hospital-Acquired Hyponatremia: Intravenous Fluid Management and Monitoring. 2024 June 18;24(6). https://ismpcanada.ca. (April 8, 2025).
 - Acarregui MJ. Fluid and electrolyte management in the newborn. May 18, 2022. In: Iowa Neonatology Handbook. https://uihc.org/childrens/educational-resources/fluid-management-nicu-handbook. (Accessed April 8, 2025).
 
Cite this document as follows: Clinical Resource, IV Fluid Safety. Pharmacist’s Letter/Pharmacy Technician’s Letter/Prescriber Insights. April 2025. [410469]