Water for Injection is highly purified water that is free from major contaminants. The sterile form is used for preparing injectable solutions before administration. In most cases, additional substances are mixed with it to make the solution isotonic before use. It may be administered into a vein, muscle, or beneath the skin. Non-sterile forms may also be used during pharmaceutical manufacturing processes where sterilization is performed later.

When Water for Injection is administered intravenously without adjusting the solution to an isotonic state, destruction of red blood cells may occur. This condition can potentially lead to kidney-related complications. Excessive use may also cause fluid overload in the body. Water for Injection is usually produced through distillation or reverse osmosis methods. It should contain less than 1 mg of dissolved substances per 100 ml of water. Preparations containing antimicrobial agents to prevent bacterial growth are also available.

Other preparations