Emergency Drug Basics
This emergency drug is used for cardiac arrest and anaphylaxis.
Epinephrine
This medication blocks vagal effects and may increase the heart rate in symptomatic bradycardia.
Atropine
This inhaled beta-2 agonist relaxes bronchial smooth muscle during bronchospasm.
Albuterol
These medications are first-line emergency drugs for active seizures or status epilepticus.
Benzodiazepines
This medication may be used to stabilize the cardiac membrane in hyperkalemia with ECG changes.
Calcium gluconate or calcium chloride
This route is preferred for epinephrine in anaphylaxis.
Intramuscular or IM
This medication briefly slows AV node conduction and is used for certain SVTs.
Adenosine
This anticholinergic bronchodilator is often combined with albuterol in moderate to severe bronchospasm.
Ipratropium
This benzodiazepine mechanism enhances calming GABA activity in the brain.
Increasing GABA activity
This medication may be used in selected severe acidosis or tricyclic antidepressant overdose with a wide QRS.
Sodium bicarbonate
This emergency medication reverses opioid-related respiratory depression.
Naloxone
This is the correct administration method for adenosine.
Rapid IV push followed immediately by a rapid saline flush
These medications reduce airway inflammation but do not provide immediate bronchodilation.
Corticosteroids
This is the priority adverse effect to monitor for after benzodiazepine administration.
Respiratory depression
This vasopressor is commonly used for severe hypotension or septic shock after fluids when indicated.
Norepinephrine
This medication is used for severe hypoglycemia when the patient cannot safely swallow and IV access is not available.
These two antiarrhythmics may be used for refractory ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia.
Amiodarone and lidocaine
These symptoms suggest anaphylaxis and require rapid emergency treatment.
Wheezing, hives, hypotension, and airway swelling
This IV medication directly raises blood glucose during severe hypoglycemia.
Dextrose
This is why pediatric emergency medication dosing requires extra caution.
Weight-based dosing
This nursing communication method helps prevent errors during emergency medication administration.
Closed-loop communication
This antiarrhythmic can cause hypotension, bradycardia, and QT prolongation.
Amiodarone
These are common adverse effects of albuterol.
Tremor, tachycardia, palpitations, and nervousness
Concentrated IV dextrose requires patent IV access because extravasation can cause this complication.
Tissue injury
A child in cardiac arrest needs medication. The nurse recognizes that pediatric emergency drugs must be calculated carefully because most doses are based on this.
Child's weight in kilograms