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Bacteriostatic Water

Prescription NDA TE AP RLD Official labelling
Informational index, not medical advice. Content is reproduced from public FDA and NLM data. Always confirm against the manufacturer's current prescribing information. Report adverse events to FDA MedWatch.

Overview

Brand name
Bacteriostatic Water
Generic name
Bacteriostatic Water
Dosage form
Injection, Solution
Route
Intramuscular
Marketing category
NDA · NDA
Labeler
Fujian Genohope Biotech Ltd.
Product type
Human Prescription Drug
DEA schedule
Not scheduled
Active ingredients
1
NDC product codes
6
Packages
6
Data completeness
84% of corroborating sources present

Active ingredients

Source: NDC Directory
Active ingredients and strengths as listed in the NDC Directory.
Ingredient Strength RxCUI Monograph
Water 1 mL/mL 1053154 View

Forms, strengths and routes

Source: NDC Directory
Dosage form
Injection, Solution
Route of administration
Intramuscular
Presentations
12

Regulatory status

Source: Drugs@FDANDC Directory
Application number
018802
Application type
NDA · New Drug Application
Approval date
October 27, 1982
Sponsor
HOSPIRA
Products on application
1
Submissions recorded
15
Products approved under application 018802.
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 Book
TE code
AP
Reference Listed Drug
Yes
Reference Standard
Yes

What 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
Most recent submissions on application 018802.
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 Labeling

Reproduced 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.

HUMAN PRESCRIPTION DRUG · 20260522 HUMAN PRESCRIPTION DRUG · 20251027

Boxed Warning

openFDA Drug Labeling

Boxed Warning Multiple-dose Vial WARNING: NOT FOR USE IN NEONATES.

Indications and Usage

openFDA Drug Labeling

INDICATIONS 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 Labeling

DOSAGE 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 Labeling

CONTRAINDICATIONS 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 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 Labeling

ADVERSE 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 Labeling

DESCRIPTION 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 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 Labeling

HOW 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 FAERS
19,134
FAERS reports mentioning this drug
as of 2026-09-25T03:42:24+00:00
A report count is not a risk measure. FAERS accepts voluntary and mandatory reports without establishing causation, and reporting is influenced by how widely a drug is used, how long it has been marketed, and media attention. FDA states that reports “do not prove that the drug caused the event”. Compare rates, not totals.

Attributed 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
Drug recall enforcement reports associated with this product.
Classification Reported Firm Reason Status
Class II September 18, 2019 Pfizer Inc. Lack of Assurance of Sterility Terminated

Shortages

Source: FDA Drug Shortages
Availability records from the FDA Drug Shortages database.
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
Every National Drug Code package associated with this medication. The NDC is the identifier used for dispensing, billing and pharmacovigilance in the United States.
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

Every dataset that contributed a fact to 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.