Emergency Medication Guide

Comprehensive medication reference for emergency care

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Emergency Medication Guide

Quick Reference for Common Emergency Medications

💊 Essential Medications

Dosages, indications, contraindications, and monitoring

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Cardiac Medications

Epinephrine Cardiac
1 mg IV/IO every 3-5 minutes

First-line vasopressor for cardiac arrest and anaphylaxis

Indications

  • Cardiac arrest (all rhythms)
  • Anaphylaxis
  • Severe hypotension
  • Bradycardia with hemodynamic compromise

Contraindications

  • None in cardiac arrest
  • Uncontrolled hypertension
  • Acute coronary syndrome (relative)

Side Effects

  • Tachycardia
  • Hypertension
  • Arrhythmias
  • Myocardial ischemia
Amiodarone Cardiac
300 mg IV/IO first dose, then 150 mg

Antiarrhythmic for VF/pVT unresponsive to defibrillation

Indications

  • VF/pVT unresponsive to defibrillation
  • Recurrent ventricular arrhythmias
  • Atrial fibrillation/flutter

Contraindications

  • Severe bradycardia
  • Second/third degree heart block
  • Known hypersensitivity

Side Effects

  • Bradycardia
  • Hypotension
  • Pulmonary toxicity (long-term)
  • Thyroid dysfunction
Nitroglycerin Cardiac
0.4 mg SL every 5 minutes, max 3 doses

Vasodilator for angina and acute coronary syndrome

Indications

  • Angina pectoris
  • Acute coronary syndrome
  • Hypertensive emergency
  • Heart failure

Contraindications

  • Right ventricular infarction
  • Viagra use within 24-48 hours
  • Severe hypotension
  • Increased ICP

Side Effects

  • Headache
  • Hypotension
  • Reflex tachycardia
  • Dizziness

Respiratory Medications

Albuterol Respiratory
2.5 mg nebulized every 20 minutes x 3

Short-acting beta-agonist for bronchospasm

Indications

  • Asthma exacerbation
  • COPD exacerbation
  • Bronchospasm
  • Anaphylaxis

Contraindications

  • Known hypersensitivity
  • Uncontrolled arrhythmias
  • Severe hypertension

Side Effects

  • Tachycardia
  • Tremor
  • Nervousness
  • Hypokalemia
Ipratropium Respiratory
0.5 mg nebulized every 6 hours

Anticholinergic bronchodilator

Indications

  • COPD exacerbation
  • Asthma (adjunct)
  • Bronchospasm

Contraindications

  • Hypersensitivity to atropine
  • Narrow-angle glaucoma
  • Prostatic hypertrophy

Side Effects

  • Dry mouth
  • Blurred vision
  • Urinary retention
  • Paradoxical bronchospasm

Analgesics

Morphine Analgesic
2-4 mg IV every 5-15 minutes

Opioid analgesic for severe pain

Indications

  • Severe pain
  • Acute coronary syndrome
  • Trauma pain
  • End-of-life care

Contraindications

  • Respiratory depression
  • Acute bronchial asthma
  • Paralytic ileus
  • Known hypersensitivity

Side Effects

  • Respiratory depression
  • Sedation
  • Nausea/vomiting
  • Constipation
Fentanyl Analgesic
25-100 mcg IV every 5-10 minutes

Synthetic opioid for severe pain

Indications

  • Severe pain
  • Procedural sedation
  • Trauma pain
  • Chronic pain breakthrough

Contraindications

  • Respiratory depression
  • Acute bronchial asthma
  • Known hypersensitivity
  • Paralytic ileus

Side Effects

  • Respiratory depression
  • Sedation
  • Muscle rigidity
  • Bradycardia

Sedation & Anesthesia

Ketamine Sedation
1-2 mg/kg IV for sedation, 4-5 mg/kg for anesthesia

Dissociative anesthetic with analgesic properties

Indications

  • Procedural sedation
  • Pain management
  • Status epilepticus
  • Trauma procedures

Contraindications

  • Uncontrolled hypertension
  • Increased ICP
  • Psychiatric disorders
  • Known hypersensitivity

Side Effects

  • Emergence reactions
  • Hypertension
  • Tachycardia
  • Increased secretions
Propofol Sedation
0.5-1 mg/kg IV bolus, 25-75 mcg/kg/min infusion

Short-acting sedative-hypnotic agent

Indications

  • Procedural sedation
  • ICU sedation
  • Induction of anesthesia
  • Status epilepticus

Contraindications

  • Known hypersensitivity
  • Egg allergy
  • Soy allergy
  • Severe hypotension

Side Effects

  • Respiratory depression
  • Hypotension
  • Pain on injection
  • Propofol infusion syndrome

Antibiotics

Ceftriaxone Antibiotic
1-2 g IV every 12-24 hours

Third-generation cephalosporin

Indications

  • Community-acquired pneumonia
  • Meningitis
  • UTI
  • Sepsis

Contraindications

  • Known hypersensitivity
  • Severe penicillin allergy
  • Neonates with hyperbilirubinemia

Side Effects

  • Allergic reactions
  • Diarrhea
  • Elevated LFTs
  • Biliary sludge
Vancomycin Antibiotic
15-20 mg/kg IV every 8-12 hours

Glycopeptide antibiotic for resistant organisms

Indications

  • MRSA infections
  • Endocarditis
  • Meningitis
  • Severe skin infections

Contraindications

  • Known hypersensitivity
  • Severe renal impairment
  • Previous vancomycin toxicity

Side Effects

  • Nephrotoxicity
  • Ototoxicity
  • Red man syndrome
  • Thrombophlebitis