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Bacteriostatic Water
Overview
Active ingredients
Source: NDC Directory| Ingredient | Strength | RxCUI | Monograph |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water | 1 mL/mL | 1053154 | View |
Forms, strengths and routes
Source: NDC DirectoryRegulatory status
Source: Drugs@FDANDC Directory| Product | Trade name | Form | Strength | Ingredient | Status | TE | Flags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 018802-001 | BACTERIOSTATIC WATER FOR INJECTION IN PLASTIC CONTAINER | LIQUID | STERILE WATER FOR INJECTION | Prescription | AP | RLD RS |
Therapeutic equivalence
Source: Orange BookWhat this rating means: Therapeutically equivalent — bioequivalence demonstrated (parenteral aqueous solutions)
Codes beginning with “A” indicate products the FDA considers therapeutically equivalent. Codes beginning with “B” indicate bioequivalence has not been established. See methodology.
Approval history
Source: Drugs@FDA| Type | No. | Action | Status | Date | Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Supplement | 27 | Manufacturing (CMC) | Approved | December 22, 2016 | Standard |
| Supplement | 26 | Manufacturing (CMC) | Approved | June 26, 2015 | Standard |
| Supplement | 25 | Manufacturing (CMC) | Approved | June 12, 2014 | Standard |
| Supplement | 13 | Labeling | Approved | June 15, 2000 | Standard |
| Supplement | 12 | Manufacturing (CMC) | Approved | June 23, 1999 | Standard |
| Supplement | 10 | Labeling | Approved | November 19, 1997 | Standard |
| Supplement | 11 | Manufacturing (CMC) | Approved | September 30, 1997 | Standard |
| Supplement | 9 | Manufacturing (CMC) | Approved | August 29, 1996 | Standard |
| Supplement | 6 | Manufacturing (CMC) | Approved | October 23, 1988 | Standard |
| Supplement | 4 | Manufacturing (CMC) | Approved | March 15, 1985 | Standard |
| Supplement | 5 | Manufacturing (CMC) | Approved | October 22, 1984 | Standard |
| Supplement | 2 | Manufacturing (CMC) | Approved | June 14, 1984 | Standard |
| Supplement | 1 | Manufacturing (CMC) | Approved | January 25, 1984 | Standard |
| Supplement | 3 | Manufacturing (CMC) | Approved | January 17, 1984 | Standard |
| Original application | 1 | Type 5 - New Formulation or New Manufacturer | Approved | October 27, 1982 | Standard |
Prescribing information
Source: openFDA Drug LabelingReproduced verbatim from the Structured Product Labeling submitted to the FDA (effective 20260522). This is the manufacturer's labelling text, not a summary and not advice.
Boxed Warning
openFDA Drug LabelingBoxed Warning Multiple-dose Vial WARNING: NOT FOR USE IN NEONATES.
Indications and Usage
openFDA Drug LabelingINDICATIONS AND USAGE This parenteral preparation is indicated only for diluting or dissolving drugs for intravenous, intramuscular or subcutaneous injection, according to instructions of the manufacturer of the drug to be administered.
Dosage and Administration
openFDA Drug LabelingDOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION The volume of the preparation to be used for diluting or dissolving any drug for injection is dependent on the vehicle concentration, dose and route of administration as recommended by the manufacturer. Parenteral drug products should be inspected visually for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration, whenever solution and container permit. See PRECAUTIONS .
Contraindications
openFDA Drug LabelingCONTRAINDICATIONS Due to the potential toxicity of benzyl alcohol in neonates, solutions containing benzyl alcohol must not be used in this patient population. Parenteral preparations with benzyl alcohol should not be used for fluid replacement. Parenteral preparations containing benzyl alcohol should not be used in epidural or spinal anesthesia procedures. Bacteriostatic Water for Injection, USP must be made approximately isotonic prior to use.
Warnings
openFDA Drug LabelingWARNINGS Benzyl alcohol, a preservative in Bacteriostatic Water for Injection, USP has been associated with toxicity in neonates. Data are unavailable on the toxicity of other preservatives in this age group. Where water is required for preparing or diluting medications for use in neonates, only preservative-free Sterile Water for Injection should be used. Intravenous administration of Bacteriostatic Water for Injection without a solute may result in hemolysis.
Adverse Reactions
openFDA Drug LabelingADVERSE REACTIONS Reactions which may occur because of this solution, added drugs or the technique of reconstitution or administration include febrile response, local tenderness, abscess, tissue necrosis or infection at the site of injection, venous thrombosis or phlebitis extending from the site of injection and extravasation. If an adverse reaction does occur, discontinue the infusion, evaluate the patient, institute appropriate countermeasures, and if possible, retrieve and save the remainder of the unused vehicle for examination. Although adverse reactions to intravenous, intramuscular or subcutaneous injection of 0.9% benzyl alcohol are not known to occur in man, experimental studies of small volume parenteral preparations containing 0.9% benzyl alcohol in several species of animals have indicated that an estimated intravenous dose up to 30 mL may be safely given to an adult without toxic effects. Administration of an estimated 9 mL to a 6 kg infant or neonate is potentially capable of producing blood pressure changes.
Description
openFDA Drug LabelingDESCRIPTION The following preparation is designed solely for parenteral use only after addition of drugs that require dilution or must be dissolved in an aqueous vehicle prior to injection. Bacteriostatic Water for Injection, USP is a sterile, nonpyrogenic preparation of water for injection containing 0.9% (9 mg/mL) or 1.1% (11 mg/mL) of benzyl alcohol added as a bacteriostatic preservative. It is supplied in a multiple-dose container from which repeated withdrawals may be made to dilute or dissolve drugs for injection. The pH is 5.7 (4.5 to 7.0). Water for Injection, USP is chemically designated H 2 O. The semi-rigid vial is fabricated from a specially formulated polyolefin. It is a copolymer of ethylene and propylene. The safety of the plastic has been confirmed by tests in animals according to USP biological standards for plastic containers. The container requires no vapor barrier to maintain the proper labeled volume.
Overdosage
openFDA Drug LabelingOVERDOSAGE Use only as a diluent or solvent. This parenteral preparation is unlikely to pose a threat of fluid overload except possibly in very small infants. In the event these should occur, re-evaluate the patient and institute appropriate corrective measures. See WARNINGS , PRECAUTIONS and ADVERSE REACTIONS .
How Supplied / Storage and Handling
openFDA Drug LabelingHOW SUPPLIED Store at 20 to 25°C (68 to 77°F). [See USP Controlled Room Temperature.] Product repackaged by: Henry Schein, Inc., Bastian, VA 24314 From Original Manufacturer/Distributor's NDC and Unit of Sale To Henry Schein Repackaged Product NDC and Unit of Sale Total Strength/Total Volume (Concentration) per unit NDC 0409-4887-99 Case of 25 Single-dose Glass Fliptop Vials NDC 0404-9970-30 1 100 mL Single-dose Glass Fliptop Vial in a bag (Vial bears NDC 0409-4887-25) 100 mL Distributed by Hospira, Inc., Lake Forest, IL 60045 USA LAB-0977-2.0 Revised: 08/2019 Image1.jpg
Adverse event reports
Source: openFDA FAERSAttributed to this product's most-reported active ingredient: WATER. Combination products with more than six active ingredients are not attributed, because a report count summed across a long ingredient list measures the list, not the medicine.
Recalls
Source: FDA Enforcement| Classification | Reported | Firm | Reason | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class II | September 18, 2019 | Pfizer Inc. | Lack of Assurance of Sterility | Terminated |
Shortages
Source: FDA Drug Shortages| Status | Availability | Company | Presentation | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current | Available | Hospira, Inc., a Pfizer Company | Bacteriostatic Water For Injection In Plastic Container, Injection, 1 mL/1 mL (NDC 0409-3977-03) | September 22, 2026 |
Packaging and NDCs
Source: NDC Directory| Package NDC | Product NDC | Labeler | Description | Marketing start |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 84502-115-02 | 84502-115 | Fujian Genohope Biotech Ltd. | 25 VIAL, MULTI-DOSE in 1 CARTON (84502-115-02) / 30 mL in 1 VIAL, MULTI-DOSE (84502-115-01) | June 15, 2026 |
| 51662-1473-1 | 51662-1473 | HF Acquisition Co LLC, DBA HealthFirst | 30 mL in 1 VIAL, MULTI-DOSE (51662-1473-1) | December 14, 2019 |
| 0404-9970-30 | 0404-9970 | Henry Schein, Inc. | 1 VIAL, MULTI-DOSE in 1 BAG (0404-9970-30) / 30 mL in 1 VIAL, MULTI-DOSE | January 17, 2022 |
| 0409-3977-03 | 0409-3977 | Hospira, Inc. | 25 VIAL, MULTI-DOSE in 1 TRAY (0409-3977-03) / 30 mL in 1 VIAL, MULTI-DOSE (0409-3977-01) | April 30, 2005 |
| 71872-7129-1 | 71872-7129 | Medical Purchasing Solutions, LLC | 1 VIAL, MULTI-DOSE in 1 BAG (71872-7129-1) / 30 mL in 1 VIAL, MULTI-DOSE | March 30, 2018 |
| 84549-977-03 | 84549-977 | ProPharma Distribution | 30 mL in 1 VIAL, MULTI-DOSE (84549-977-03) | October 10, 2025 |
| 84502-115 | 84502-115 | Fujian Genohope Biotech Ltd. | — | June 15, 2026 |
| 51662-1473 | 51662-1473 | HF Acquisition Co LLC, DBA HealthFirst | — | December 14, 2019 |
| 0404-9970 | 0404-9970 | Henry Schein, Inc. | — | January 17, 2022 |
| 0409-3977 | 0409-3977 | Hospira, Inc. | — | April 30, 2005 |
| 71872-7129 | 71872-7129 | Medical Purchasing Solutions, LLC | — | April 30, 2005 |
| 84549-977 | 84549-977 | ProPharma Distribution | — | April 30, 2005 |
Sources for this page
| Dataset | Agency | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| NDC Directory | FDA | Identity, ingredients, strengths, forms, routes, labelers, packages |
| Drugs@FDA | FDA | Application, sponsor, submissions, review documents, marketing status |
| Orange Book | FDA | Therapeutic equivalence codes, reference drug flags, patents, exclusivity |
| Drug Labeling | FDA / NLM | Prescribing information reproduced above |
| FAERS | FDA | Adverse event report counts |
| Enforcement | FDA | Recall records |
| Drug Shortages | FDA | Supply availability |
Generated September 25, 2026 · 12 sections on this page.