Calcium Chloride

Question 1

Calcium Chloride 10% Indications

Answer 1

• Cardiac arrest related to hyperkalaemia, hypocalcaemia or overdose of calcium channel blocking drugs
• Toxic overdose of Diltiazem or Verapamil causing severe hypotension not responsive to conventional therapy.
• Cardiac protection in the presence of known symptomatic hyperkalaemia.

Question 2

Calcium Chloride 10% Exclusion criteria

Answer 2

• Known hypersensitivity
• Patients in VF
• Patients who are known to be taking cardiac glycosides (e.g. Digoxin)
• Patients with known hypercalcaemia or hypercalciuria
• Co-administration with ceftriaxone in:
  premature newborns up to a corrected age of 41 weeks (weeks of gestation + weeks of life) and
  full-term newborns (up to 28 days of age)

Question 3

Calcium Chloride 10% side effects

Answer 3

• Rapid administration may cause peripheral vasodilation and hypotension
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Abdominal discomfort

Question 4

Calcium Chloride 10% dose

Answer 4

Adults 16 years of age and over: 10ml of Calcium Chloride 10% solution.

Children under 16 years: 0.2ml/kg of Calcium Chloride 10% solution (maximum 10ml).

Question 5

Calcium Chloride 10% administration

Answer 5

Slow (5 minutes) IV/IO injection

In the case of cardiac arrest administer as a rapid bolus.

Question 6

Calcium Chloride 10% repeat dose

Answer 6

In the case of Calcium Channel Blocker overdose, a further dose may be given after 10 minutes. Maximum of two doses.

In all other cases no repeat doses are authorised.