Hartmann's solution — FY prescribing 💊
🚨 HIGH ALERT — EDUCATIONAL DRAFT, NOT A PRESCRIBING ORDER. Drug choice, indication, formulation, dose, route and monitoring require current BNF/BNFC, product SmPC and local NHS protocol. Source reviewed 3 November 2026; independent clinical/pharmacy sign-off pending.
🧬 Mechanism and reason for use
- Hartmann’s is a balanced crystalloid containing sodium, potassium, calcium, chloride and lactate buffer.
- Appropriate adult extracellular fluid replacement or resuscitation where prescribed by local fluid protocol.
💊 Indication-specific UK regimen / dosing boundary
- Adult resuscitation: NICE CG174 recommends 500 mL crystalloid (Na 130–154 mmol/L) over less than 15 minutes with immediate reassessment when appropriate; choose Hartmann’s only if clinically suitable.
- Not a generic maintenance prescription: match water, electrolyte and glucose needs; adjust for frailty, AKI, cardiac failure and other fluid losses.
🔎 Before writing a prescription
- Check compatibility with IV medicines and blood products as relevant to the exact product, potassium/calcium content, serum electrolytes, kidney function and fluid state.
🧪 Monitoring and reassessment
- Fluid responsiveness, BP, respiratory signs, urine output, creatinine and electrolytes.
🚨 Serious pitfalls / when to escalate
- Do not treat the presence of potassium as automatic prohibition in every patient with elevated K, but investigate severe hyperkalaemia and follow local fluid protocol.
- A balanced crystalloid is not a substitute for specific glucose/maintenance requirements.
📖 UK reference documents
Editorial status: Source checked for the specific statements above on 3 November 2026. References may be updated. This card has not had formal independent pharmacist/consultant approval; no unlisted indications, paediatric extrapolation or automatic renal-dose adjustments are implied.
