EMERGENCY DRUGS DOSE INDICATION NURSING CONSIDERATION

Adenosine 3 mg/ml Acute treatment of Rapid IV push over 1-2 seconds

supraventricular Flush line immediately with 5-20 ml NS
tachycardia Infuse as close to IV site as possible
IO administration also successful
Atropine 0.1 mg/ml Bradycardia May repeat x 1 dose in 3 minutes
Calcium gluconate 100 mg/ml Cardiac arrest May repeat x 1 dose, then dose per ionized calcium results
Hypocalcemia Administer by slow IV push for cardiac arrest, infuse over 30-
60 minutes for other indications. Stop infusion if HR is
greater than 100 bpm.
Do not give intra-arterially
Dextrose 10% O.1 Gm/ml Hypoglycemia 2 ml/kg of Dextrose 10% Hyperkalemia: Continuous infusion
Hypokalemia in of 0.5 g/kg/hr dextrose and 0.1-0.2 units/kg/hr regular
combination with insulin. Dextrose and insulin dosages are adjusted based on
insulin serum glucose and potassium concentrations. Abrupt
discontinuation of dextrose infusion is not recommended
due to the risk of rebound hypoglycemia. Glucose
concentrations less than D15 should be administered via a
central vein to minimize risk of phlebitis and thrombosis
Dobutamine 250 mg/20ml Hypotension Monitor cardiac flow
Dopamine 400 mg/250ml Hypotension Consider if poor peripheral perfusion, evidence of shock, or
thready pulses after epinephrine and volume expansion
(and bicarbonate)
Administer into a central vein when possible. Phentolamine
used for treatment of IV infiltrates
Epinephrine 0.1 mg/ml Resuscitation Rapid IV push followed by 0.5-1 ml NS flush
Severe bradycardia May repeat every 3-5 minutes
Short term use for ALWAYS use the diluted 1:10,000 (0.1 mg/ml) concentration
systemic hypotension for individual doses.
Only use the 1:1,000 (1 mg/ml) for continuous infusion
solutions
NEVER inject into an artery
Do not mix with bicarbonate
Effectiveness of drug increases if acidosis is corrected
May mix dose volume with 3-5 ml NS
Follow ET administration with several positive pressure
ventilations.
Do NOT administer these higher doses intravenously
Fentanyl 50 mcg/ml Analgesia Consider 10 mcg/ml for doses less than 5 mcg
Sedation
Anesthesia
Heparin 1000 u/ml Venous thrombosis Check signs of bleeding.
Hydralazine 20 mg/ ml Hypertension by Doses greater than 2 mg; consider 0.4 mg/ml
vasodilation
Lorazepam 2 mg/ml Sedation Slow IV push
Seizures Seizures, may repeat q 10-15 minutes
Morphine 1 mg/ml Pain Slow IV push over 5-10 minutes, IM, SQ
Sedation
Naloxone 1 mg/ml Narcotic antagonist May repeat in 3 - 5 minutes if no response during
resuscitation.
Duration of reversal is brief; may need repeated doses.
Nicardipine 25 mg/10ml Hypertension It should be used cautiously in those with impaired renal or
hepatic function or in combination with a beta-blocker in
CHF or significant left ventricular dysfunction patients and in
patients with portal hypertension.
Norepinephrine 1 mg/ml Hypertension
Phenobarbital 65 mg/ml Anticonvulsant IV push over 10-15 minutes, no faster than 1 mg/min.
Drug can be administered by slow IV push, IM, PR, or PO.
Diluted IV product can be used orally.
Salbutamol 2.5 mg/2ml Asthma Assess respiratory function
Chronic bronchitis and
other breathing
disorders

Sodium Bicarbonate 0.5 mEq/ml Metabolic acidosis Slow IV push over 30 minutes.
Use only 0.5 mEq/ml solution for infants
Infuse 1 mEq/kg over ≥ 1 minute
CAUSTIC; don’t infuse faster than 2 ml/kg/minute.
NOT routinely given for resuscitation.
Can also be given by continuous infusion, IO, or PO
Vecuronium 1 mg/ml Paralysis IV push over less than 1 minute
Rapid Sequence
Intubation
Volume Expanders RBCs, Hypotension RBCs: Infuse over 4 hours
NS Hypovolemia NS: Infuse over at least 10 minutes, but preferably over 30-
With evidence of acute 60 minutes.
blood loss or a decrease Consider if poor response to resuscitative efforts or weak
in effective volume pulses with a good heart rate