1.
STALLA CROWN COLLEGE OF NURSING
EMERGENCY DRUGS
DRUG ACTION USES DOSE SIDE EFFECTS
ADRENALINE -Increases heart rate & cardiac output
-Increases BP
-Broncho- dilation
- Anaphylactic shock
- haemorrage
-cardiac arrest
Adult 0.5-ml IV. IM or
intracardially (repeat after
3min
-Hypertension
-Tachycardia
-Anxiety
AMINOPHYLLINE -Broncho Dilator
-Pulmonary vaso Dilatation
-Cardiac stimulant
-acute asthmatic
attack
-Broncospasms
associated with
chronic bronchitis
&emphyzema
Adult: 250 mg IV
SLOWLY over 10
minutes
Child: 5mg/kg IM or IV
over 15 minutes
- palpitations
- nausea
- GI disturbances
ATROPINE SULPHATE Antispasmodic
-Acts on the CNS
-Decrease salivary and bronco secretions
-increase heartrate
-reduce secretions
-as a mydriatic used
in refraction
procedures.
Adult: 300-600
micrograms IM
Child: 20 micrograms
per kg
-hallucinations, dry mouth,
- restlessness,
- delirium, pupil dilation
-palpitations,
-vasodilation
-constipation

2.
STALLA CROWN COLLEGE OF NURSING
CALCIUM GLUCONATE Increases strength of heart contraction -poor cardiac action
-cardiac arrest
-hypocalcaemia
-tetany
Adult: 10-20 mls
IV SLOWLY
Child: 0.02 mg/kg. DO
NOT USE TOGETHER
WITH SODIUM
BICARBONATE
-may produce vasospasms in
coronary and cerebral
arteries,ventricular irritability in
CHLORPROMAZINE
(LARGACTIL)
-major tranquilizer
- antiemetic
-schizophrenia
-restlessness
-severe nausea and
vomiting
Adult:25-50mg iv or im,
but im in acute
psychosis
Child: 2-4mg/kg in 4-6
doses
-postural hypotension
-tremour and rigidity
-salivation
-jaundice
-hypothermia
DEXTROSE 50% -increases blood glucose -hypoglycaemia in
diabetes
-hypothermia
-malaria
Adult:20-100mls IV
Baby: 1-2mls in 10mls of
water for intection
-irritation of venous intima
-thrombophlebitis
DIAZEPAM
(VALIUM)
-anticonvulsant
-anxiolytic
-status epilepticus
-cerebral malaria
-meningitis
-convulsions
Adult: 10mg IV slowly
Child: 1mg up to 10mg in
divided doses
Baby-5yrs: 0.2-0.5mg
slowly every 2-5mins to
amaximum of 5mg
-decreased alertness
-fatigue
-respiratory depression
-dependence

3.
STALLA CROWN COLLEGE OF NURSING
DIGOXIN CARDIAC GLYCOSIDE
- increases cardiac output by reducing the
rate of contraction
-heart failure
-cardiac arrhythmia
especially arterial
fibrillation
C/I: bradycardia
(pulse less than 60
b/minute)
Adult: o.5 – 1mg STAT
(slow IV push)
MAINT: .25 - .75mg qid
all routes
- cardiac arrythmias
-hallucinations
-irritability
-photophobia
-colour blindness
ERGOMETRINE -smooth muscle stimulant
-induces uterine contractions
-incomplete abortion
-post partum
haemorrhage
-caution: in toxaemia
of pregnancy
PO: 0.5-1.0mg
IM: 200-500mcg
IV: 100-500mcg
-nausea
-vomiting
-transient hypertension
-increased BP usual with IV
administration.
FUROSEMIDE
(LASIX)
LOOP DIURETIC
-diuresis
C/I:
-fluid depletion
-oliguria d.t. hypokalaemia
-heart failure
-renal failure
-hepatic failure
-oedema
-oliguria d.t. renal
failure
Adult: 20-40mg PO,IV
up to 80mg/day
Child: o.5-1.5mg/kg up
to 20mg/day
-fluid depletion
-hypokalaemia (depletion of
potassium levels)
HYDROCORTISONE STEROID/CORTICOSTEROID
-antinflammatory
-respiratory stimulant
-cardiac stimulant
C/I: peptic ulcer
-asthma, allergic
reactions
-cardiac failure,
shock. Nephrotic
syndrome,
haemolytic anaemia
Adult: 100-500mg IV,IM,
3-4 times/24 hrs
Child:25mg/kg 1-2
times/24 hrs
-electrolyte imbalance
-increased BP
-decreased immunity
-psychosis
LIGNOCAINE
HYDROCHLORIDE
LOCAL ANAESTHETIC
-DECREASE HEART EXCITABLITY
-cardiac arrythimias
-ventricular
fibrillation
-tachycardia
Adult: 1-2mg/kg IV
loading dose
-confusion
-convulsions
POTASSIUM CHLORIDE ELECTROLYTES/MINERALS
-potassium supplement
-strengthens heart muscles
-potassium deficit
-dehydration due to
diarrheoa
Adult: 1ml ampoule -hyperkalaemia
-rapid injection may be toxic to
the heart

4.
STALLA CROWN COLLEGE OF NURSING
PROMETHAZINE
(PHENERGAN)
ANTIHISTAMINE
-block action of histamine reaction
C/I: hepatic disease
-antidote for
allergies
-sedative
-preoperative
medication
-motion sickness
Adult: 10-75mg IVor IM -drowsiness
-malaise
-nightmares
-addiction
SODIUM BICARBONATE ELECTROLYTE
-maintaenance normal PH
-acidosis in poor
respiratory function
and poor cardiac
function
-cardiac arrest
Adult: 3-5mEq/kg IV for
acidosis.
More for cardiac arrest
-hypotension
-restlessness
-weakness, h/ache
-dizziness
-respiratory collapse
SODIUM CHLORIDE ELECTROLYTE
-replenishes sodium levels
-correction of
sodium loss in fluid
replacement and
maintenance
-hyperemesis
graviderum
Adults: replacement
therapy 8-10mEq/kg in
o.9% solution
-hypernatremia
VITAMIN K
(PHYTONADIONE)
VITAMINS
-coagulants
-synthesis of prothrombin
-haemorrhage in
newborns
-reduced
prothrombin levels
-premature babies
Adults: 5-20mg IM or IV
Child: 1-5mg IM
-sensitisation
-thrombosis
AMINOPHYLLINE BRONCHO DILATOR -used in reversible
airway obstruction
-severe acute
asthma
Adults: 250mg IV slowly
for 15-20 minutes STAT
MAINT:500- 750mg
added in 1 litre of
normal saline to run in
-tachycardia
-palpitations
-gastro intestine disturbances
-headache, nausea
-insomnia

5.
STALLA CROWN COLLEGE OF NURSING
8-12hrs
Child: 5mg/kg slowly
over 20 minutes
-arrythmia and convulsions if
given rapidly by IV
HYDRALAZINE
HYDROCHLORIDE
(APRESOLINE)
VASODILATOR -moderate to severe
hypertension
-hypertensive crisis
Adult: PO: 25mg BD
increased to a
maximum of 50mg BD
IV: 5-10mg over 20
minutes, may be
repeated after 20-30
minutes
-tachycardia,nausea and
vomiting
-fluid retention
-headache
-systemic lupus erythematosus
like syndrome in prolonged
use with doe of 100mg daily.