Calcium Chloride (CaCl2) Flashcards
Actions (3)
- Increases myocardial contractility
- Actively competes with potassium at heart and neuromuscular receptor sites
- Restores myocardial conduction in presence of hyperkalemia
Drug classification
Inotropic agents (electrolyte)
Indication (2)
- Cardiac arrest associated with:
Hyperkalemia
Overdose of calcium channel blockers - Crush syndrome:
Suspected hyperkalemia
Crush/entrapment more than 4 hours
Contraindication
Not significant in indications listed above
Adverse effects
Not significant in indication listed above.
Administration - cardiac arrest
1 gram slowly over 60 seconds. IVP.
May repeat every 10 minutes.
Administration - crush syndrome
1 gram slowly over 60 seconds. IVP.
One time only.
Pediatrics - cardiac arrest
20 mg/kg slowly (over 60 seconds) IVP
May repeat every 10 minutes.
Pediatrics - crush syndrome
Same - but may not repeated
Onset
Immediate
Duration
30 minutes - 2 hours
Precaution
Flush IV tubing before and after administration if other drugs are given
Rationale
Precipitates with sodium bicarbonate to form calcium carbonate (chalk). & incompatible with other drugs
Precautions
Aspirants prior to administration to ensure IV potency
Rationale
Causes tissue necrosis of injected into interstitial space.
Notes
Hyperkalemia may be caused by potassium retention in dialysis patients or overdose of potassium supplements.
Signs of hyperkalemia are peaked T waves, possibly absent P waves or widened QRS complexes.
Common calcium channel blocker
Adalat or Procardia = Nifedipine Calan or Isoptin = Verapamil Cardizen = ditiazem Norvasc = Amildipine besylate Cardene = nicardipine hydrochloride
