Drug doses

Question 1

What is the administration and dose of salbutamol to treat an asthma attack?

Answer 1

5mg salbutamol - nebulised

Can be given every 15-30 minutes or 10mg/hour if required.

Question 2

What are the side effects of salbutamol

Answer 2

Tremor
Tachycardia
Arrhythmias
Hypokalaemia

Question 3

What route and dose of prednisone is given to treat an asthma attack?

Answer 3

40mg oral prednisolone

Question 4

If oral prednisolone is not able to be taken, what dose of hydrocortisone is given to treat an asthma attack?

Answer 4

100mg IV hydrocortisone

Question 5

What are the indications for calcium gluconate?

Answer 5

Severe hypocalcaemia
Severe hyperkalaemia (Treat > 6.5 or ECG changes)

Question 6

How should calcium gluconate be given?

Answer 6

Slow IV over 5-10 mins

Question 7

What is the dose of calcium gluconate?

Answer 7

10-20ml of 10% calcium gluconate

Question 8

Other than calcium gluconate, what else should be given to treat hyperkalaemia?

Answer 8

IV Insulin/Dextrose

Question 9

What dose of insulin/dextrose should be given?

Answer 9

10 units insulin

50ml of 50% dextrose (25g)

Question 10

What is the emergency treatment for hypoglycaemia?

Answer 10

10-20g glucose in snack
IM or IV glucagon
If no response in 10 minutes, IV infusion glucose

Question 11

How would you set up an IV infusion of glucose to treat hypoglycaemia?

Answer 11

75-80ml of 20%

Question 12

What dose of glucagon is used to treat hypoglycaemia?

Answer 12

1mg IV or IM

Question 13

Which patient group will glucagon be ineffective in?

Answer 13

Malnourished patients - mechanism is to mobilise glycogen stored in the liver, but these patients will have inadequate stores

Question 14

What does of aspirin is given in ACS treatment?

Answer 14

300mg PO

Question 15

What dose and delivery of morphine is given for MI or ACS?

Answer 15

5-10mg IV

Question 16

What dose of clopidogrel is given post MI if patient is not already taking?

Answer 16

Loading dose of 300mg

Then 75mg OD

Question 17

What adrenaline would you give in anaphylaxis?

Answer 17

0. 5mg

0. 5ml of 1:1000

Question 18

What dose and route of chlorphenamine would you give in anaphylaxis?

Answer 18

10mg IV or IM

Question 19

What dose of hydrocortisone would you give in anaphylaxis?

Answer 19

200mg IV

Question 20

What is the dose and route of lorazepam?

Answer 20

4mg IV Lorazepam

Question 21

If IV access if not gained, how else can you administer benzodiazepines?

Answer 21

Midasolam - mouth (buccal)

Diazepam - 10-20mg rectal

Question 22

What antidote is given for opiate overdose?

Answer 22

Naloxone
400micrograms to start
If no response: 800micrograms for up to 2 doses 1 minute apart

Question 23

What dose of diazepam IV is given in convulsions?

Answer 23

10mg at rate of 1ml/minute

Question 24

What dose of adrenaline would you give in CPR?

Answer 24

1mg of 1:10000

Question 25

What dose of atropine would you give in a patient with bradycardia following an MI?

Answer 25

500 micg IV every 3-5mins

Question 26

What dose of atropine would you give in a patient with bradycardia following beta-blocker overdose?

Answer 26

3mg

Question 27

What dose of morphine can you give to manage pain?

Answer 27

Oral - 10mg every 4 hours

IV - 5mg every 4 hours