Emergency Drug List

Question 1

What are the emergency indications for epinephrine (adrenaline)?

Answer 1

• Cardio-pulmonary Resuscitation
• Acute anaphylaxis and laryngeal oedema

Question 2

What dose of epinephrine should be used in the CPR of an adult?

Answer 2

1mg every 3-5 minutes as required

(10mL of a 100μg/mL solution is recommended)

Question 3

How is epinephrine administered when used for CPR?

Answer 3

IV injection

Question 4

What is the route of administration of epinephrine used to treat acute anaphylaxis and laryngeal oedema?

Answer 4

IM injection

Question 5

What dose of epinephrine should be used to treat an adult with acute anaphylaxis?

Answer 5

500μg repeated at 5 min intervals according to blood pressure, HR and respiratory function

Question 6

Where should epinephrine be injected?

Answer 6

The anterolateral aspect of the middle third of the thigh

Question 7

What are the emergency indications for hydrocortisone?

Answer 7

• Laryngeal oedema in anaphylaxis (as an adjunct to epinephrine)
• Severe and life-threatening acute asthma

Question 8

What is the route of emergency hydrocortisone administration?

Answer 8

IV injection

Question 9

What is the dose of hydrocortisone used in adjunctive therapy for anaphylaxis in adults?

Answer 9

100-300mg

Question 10

What is the dose of hydrocortisone given in acute severe/life threatening asthma in adults?

Answer 10

100mg every 6 hours until conversion to oral prednisolone is possible

Question 11

As what formulation should IV hydrocortisone be given?

Answer 11

Hydrocortisone sodium succinate

Question 12

What is the emergency indication for Chlorphenamine?

Answer 12

Anaphylaxis (used with adrenaline and hydrocortisone)

Question 13

What is the route of administration of emergency Chlorphenamine?

Answer 13

IV injection (or IM)

Question 14

What dose of IV Chlorphenamine should be given to an adult with anaphylaxis?

Answer 14

10mg repeated if necessary

(No more than 4 times/day)

Question 15

What are the emergency indications for atropine?

Answer 15

• Bradycardia due to β-blocker OD
• Intra-operative bradycardia
• Bradycardia due to MI

Question 16

How should emergency atropine be administered?

Answer 16

IV injection

Question 17

What dose of atropine is used in β-blocker OD in adults?

Answer 17

3mg

Question 18

What dose of atropine is given for intra-operative bradycardia?

Answer 18

300-600 μg (larger if an emergency)

Question 19

What dose of atropine should be use post-MI?

(this I’m pretty sure is the use they’re most concerned with us knowing)

Answer 19

500 μg every 3-5 minutes up to 3mg

Question 20

What are the emergency indications for aspirin?

Answer 20

• NSTEMI
• STEMI

Question 21

What is the route of administration of emergency aspirin?

Answer 21

Oral - chewed or dissolved in water

Question 22

What is the dose of emergency aspirin?

Answer 22

300mg

Question 23

What is the emergency indication for Clopidogrel?

Answer 23

ACS

Question 24

What is the emergency dose of Clopidogrel?

Answer 24

300mg

Question 25

What is the route of administration of Clopidogrel?

Answer 25

Oral

Question 26

What are the emergency indications for Calcium Gluconate?

Answer 26

* Acute severe hyperkalaemia (\>6.5mmol/L plasma or ECG changes) * Acute severe hypocalcaemia

Question 27

What is the route of administration of Calcium Gluconate?

Answer 27

Slow IV injection

Question 28

What is the dose of Calcium Gluconate for hypocalcaemia?

Answer 28

Pretty complex, wouldn’t bother learning tbh but it’s essentially 10-20mL but with lots of if’s and but’s and changes to make

Question 29

What is the dose of Cacium Gluconate in hyperkalaemia?

Answer 29

10-20mL of 10% Calcium Gluconate The dose should be titrated as ECG improves

Question 30

What are the emergency indications for Diazepam?

Answer 30

* Severe anxiety/panic attacks * Status epilepticus

Question 31

What are the routes of administration of emergency Diazepam?

Answer 31

* IM injection/slow IV (anxiety and panic attacks) * IV injection/PR (status epilepticus)

Question 32

What is the dose of Diazepam used in severe anxiety/panic attacks?

Answer 32

10mg with another 10mg after 4 hours if required

Question 33

How should IV Diazepam be administered in severe anxiety/panic attacks?

Answer 33

Into a large vein at no more than 5mg/minute

Question 34

What dose of Diazepam should be given IV in status epilepticus?

Answer 34

10mg then 10mg after 10 minutes if required Give at a rate of 5mg/min

Question 35

What is the dose of PR Diazepam used in status epilepticus?

Answer 35

10-20mg and repeated after 10-15 mins if required

Question 36

What is the emergency indication for Lorazepam?

Answer 36

Status epilepticus

Question 37

What is the route of administration of Lorazepam in status epilepticus?

Answer 37

Slow IV injection

Question 38

What is the dose of Lorazepam in status epilepticus?

Answer 38

4mg then 4mg after 10 minutes if required (maximum of 2 doses)

Question 39

What is the emergency indication of nebuliser salbutamol?

Answer 39

Acute moderate/severe/life threatening asthma

Question 40

What is the dose of nebuliser salbutamol used in adults with acute asthma exacerbation?

Answer 40

5mg given via O₂ driven nebuliser repeated every 20-30 mins or as required

Question 41

What is the main emergency indication (other than acute pain) of morphine?

Answer 41

MI

Question 42

What is the route of administration of morphine in MI?

Answer 42

Slow IV injection (1-2mg/minute)

Question 43

What is the dose of morphine used in MI?

Answer 43

5-10mg followed by another dose if required

Question 44

What are the emergency indications for Naloxone?

Answer 44

* Medical opioid overdose * Non-medical opioid overdose

Question 45

How is Naloxone administered for medical opioid overdose?

Answer 45

IV injection or IV infusion

Question 46

What is the dosage of IV injection Naloxone?

Answer 46

400 μg then 800 μg for up to 2 doses at 1 minute intervals and a then 2mg dose (only use another dose if no response to previous dose) before reviewing diagnosis

Question 47

How is Naloxone administered for non-medical opioid overdosage?

Answer 47

IM

Question 48

What is the dose of Naloxone in non-medical opioid overdosage?

Answer 48

400 μg every 2-3 minutes and continue until breathing normally or contents of syringe is used up

Question 49

How should emergency fluids be prescribed?

Answer 49

500ml of 0.9% saline over 15 minutes up to a maximum of 2L before getting senior review

Question 50

How should dosage of IV fluids be adjusted in at risk populations?

Answer 50

Give 250ml bolus instead of 500ml

Question 51

What other drugs should you know about for emergency scenarios?

Answer 51

* Insulin/dextrose infusions * All hypoglycaemia treatments