CareSearch. (2024). Syringe Drivers. Retrieved from https://www.caresearch.com.au/Health-Professionals/Nurses/Clinical-Care/Syringe-Drivers
CareSearch. "Syringe Drivers". CareSearch. Flinders University, 11 Nov. 2024, https://www.caresearch.com.au/Health-Professionals/Nurses/Clinical-Care/Syringe-Drivers.
CareSearch 2025, Syringe Drivers, viewed 4 June 2025, https://www.caresearch.com.au/Health-Professionals/Nurses/Clinical-Care/Syringe-Drivers.
CareSearch. Syringe Drivers [Internet]. Adelaide SA: CareSearch, Flinders University; [updated 2024 Nov 11; cited 2025 Jun 4]. Available from: https://www.caresearch.com.au/Health-Professionals/Nurses/Clinical-Care/Syringe-Drivers
Syringe Drivers are small portable (usually battery-operated) devices used to administer medications in palliative care. A single drug, or more often a combination of drugs, is given via a slow continuous subcutaneous infusion to help control symptoms when other routes of administration are no longer viable, feasible or preferred.
Common indications for use of syringe drivers in palliative care include:
The portability of syringe driver and suitability for all clinical settings are advantages to this means of administering medicines. This can remove or diminish the need for intramuscular or intravenous injections. As syringe drivers provide a constant level of medicine, the plasma concentration remains at the optimum therapeutic level with no peaks or troughs.
Syringe drivers can be used intermittently or discontinued if symptoms can later be managed by the oral route. If the person is able to move around, they might find it helpful to have a syringe driver bag to keep it safe and in a comfortable position.
Although syringe drivers are a convenient method of medication delivery, not all medications can be delivered subcutaneously.
For nurses to correctly use syringe drivers, they need to be adequately trained. Other disadvantages include:
Some people might be worried that the use of a syringe driver causes the person to die sooner. It is important to discuss with them why the syringe driver is being considered. Listen to their concerns and reassure them that the syringe driver is a safe and effective way to manage their symptoms. You can also reassure them that analgesics and other medicines are safe and effective when prescribed appropriately and administered correctly.
Nurses need to visit regularly (usually daily) to review the person’s symptoms and set up a new syringe of medication. They will also change the cannula regularly.
In the meantime, certain things need to be monitored routinely. These include:
If the syringe driver alarm sounds check for empty syringe, blocked needle, or tubing (includes kinked tube), or jammed plunger.
Detailed information about commonly used medications, incompatibilities, contraindications, equipment, and techniques are available in the:
Caution must be taken when looking at any overseas information as there can be differences in the drugs, dosages and devices that are used.
As with any intervention or change to patient care, adequate education and support should be provided to the person receiving care and their support network. Education and support are important for people caring for someone at home who has a syringe driver. Caring@home provides online education for nurses on supporting carers to manage subcutaneous medicines.
Visit Caring@home for online education
Caring@home
For online education on using the NIKI T34â„¢, T34â„¢ & BodyGuardâ„¢ T syringe pumps visit PallConsult, an initiative of Queensland Health.
This information was drawn from the following resources:
Download CPCRE's Guidelines for subcutaneous infusion devices (4.7MB pdf)
View PallConsult's online learning package on syringe pumps
Access more Syringe Driver resources
Page updated 11 November 2024