Drugs Flashcards
Adrenaline 1:1,000 (1mg/1mL) is indicated in:
Life-threatening asthma
Anaphylaxis
Adrenaline 1:10,000 (1mg/10mL) is indicated in:
Cardiac arrest
Post-ROSC circulatory support
Amiodarone is indicated in:
Cardiac arrest with VF or pulseless VT if unresponsive to 3 x DCCS
Aspirin is indicated in:
Clinical or ECG evidence suggestive of myocardial ischaemia or infarction
Suspected TIA where all symptoms have resolved AND the patient is not being conveyed to hospital AND the patient has been referred to the local TIA pathway
Atropine is indicated in:
Symptomatic bradycardia with ANY of the following:
Pulse < 40 bpm
SBP below average for age
Paroxysmal ventricular arrythmia requiring suppression
Confusion secondary to impaired cerebral perfusion
Bradycardia following ROSC
Benzylpenicillin is indicated in:
Suspected meningococcal disease + non-blanching rash and/or signs of sepsis
Chlorphenamine is indicated in:
Symptomatic allergic reaction (falling short of anaphylaxis) that causes the patient distress and/or alleviating distressing cutaneous symptom only after emergency
treatment with adrenaline and the patient is stable
Dexamethasone is indicated in:
Croup
Diazepam (5mg/1mL) is indicated in:
Status epilepticus
Eclamptic seizures if initial seizure lasts 2 - 3 minutes or if recurrent
Cocaine toxicity with cardiac presentation
Diazepam emulsions (5mg/1mL) is indicated in:
Status epilepticus
Eclamptic seizures if initial seizure lasts 2 - 3 minutes or if recurrent
Cocaine toxicity with cardiac presentation
Diazepam stesolid (2.5mg/1.25mL or 5mg/2.5mL) is indicated in:
Status epilepticus
Eclamptic seizures if initial seizure lasts 2 - 3 minutes or if recurrent
Glucagon is indicated in:
Hypoglycaemia
Clinically suspected hypoglycaemia where PO glucose is inappropriate
Glucose 10% INF is indicated in:
Hypoglycaemia
Clinically suspected hypoglycaemia where PO glucose is inappropriate
Glucose gel is indicated in:
Hypoglycaemia
Glyceryl trinitrate is indicated for:
Cardiac chest pain due to angina or myocardial infarction, when systolic blood pressure is greater than 90mmHg.
Consider administering GTN in Acute Heart Failure with ischaemia or uncontrolled hypertension.
Patients with suspected cocaine toxicity presenting with chest pain
Hydrocortisone is indicated in:
Severe or life-threatening asthma.
Acute exacerbation of COPD.
Adrenal crisis (including Addisonian crisis) which is a time-critical medical emergency with an associated mortality.
Prevention of Adrenal crisis in patients who suffer trauma or acute illness and are on long-term steroid therapy, either:
as replacement therapy for adrenal insufficiency from any cause, in long-term therapy at doses of 5+ mg prednisolone, e.g. for immune suppression.
Administer hydrocortisone to:
1. Patients in an established adrenal crisis (IV or IM administration preferable). Ensure parenteral hydrocortisone is given prior to transportation.
2. Patients with suspected adrenal insufficiency or on long-term steroid therapy who have become unwell, to prevent them having an adrenal crisis (IM administration is usually sufficient).
3. Pregnant women with known Addison’s Disease who are in established labour (regular painful contractions).
NB If in doubt about adrenal insufficiency, it is better to administer hydrocortisone.
Can be considered in post ROSC patients that may have arrested due to adrenal crisis.
Ibuprofen is indicated in:
Mild to moderate pain
Pyrexia with associated discomfort
Soft tissue injuries
Misoprostol is indicated in:
For the treatment of primary postpartum haemorrhage (>500 mL blood loss within first 24 hours after birth)
For the treatment of life threatening bleeding following a confirmed diagnosis of miscarriage.
Misoprostol can be administered as a second-line drug treatment after Syntometrine® or as an alternative firstline drug treatment if Syntometrine® is contraindicated or unavailable
Morphine is indicated in
Severe pain including pain associated with myocardial infarction
Naloxone is indicated in:
Respiratory depression or arrest secondary to opioid overdose
Patients exposed to high-potency veterinary or anaesthetic preparations should be given naloxone if ALOC or exposure within 10 minutes even if asymptomatic
Naloxone IV is indicated in:
Opioid overdose producing
respiratory/cardiovascular/central nervous system depression
Loss of consciousness with respiratory depression
Nitric oxide is indicated in:
Moderate - severe pain including labour pains
Ondansetron is indicated in:
Nausea and vomiting
Paracetamol (tablet) is indicated for:
Mild - moderate pain
Febrile
Paracetamol (suspension) is indicated for:
Mild - moderate pain
Febrile
Paracetamol (INF) is indicated for:
Mild - moderate pain
Febrile
Salbutamol (NEB) is indicated for:
Acute asthma attacks
Expiratory wheeze associated with allergy, anaphylaxis, smoke inhalation, beta-blocker overdose or lower airway cause
Exacerbation of COPD
Sodium chloride is indicated in:
Medical-related conditions +/- haemorrhage
Trauma-related haemorrhage
Burns
Crush injury
Sepsis
As a flush for cannulas
Syntometrine is indicated for:
Primary or secondary post-partum haemorrhage (PPH*) where there is excessive bleeding from the birth canal. See PPH guidance for definitions of primary and secondary PPH.
Confirmed miscarriage (or termination of pregnancy) with excessive bleeding (e.g. where a patient has gone home with medical management and starts to bleed). See Vaginal Bleeding during Pregnancy up to 20 weeks Gestation for the definition of confirmed miscarriage.
Tranexamic acid is indicated for:
Prevention and treatment of significant haemorrhage following trauma
Head injury patients, age 18 and over with a Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) of 12 or less;
Post-partum haemorrhage after the administration of a uterotonic drug or where a uterotonic medicine is contraindicated. N.B. A post-partum haemorrhage may start within 4 but up to 24 hours after delivery
Adrenaline (1mg/1mL) cautions include
Severe hypertension in patients on non-cardio-selective beta-blockers (propanolol)
Adrenaline (1mg/1mL) dose and administration:
Adults - 500 mcg (0.5 mL) every 5 minutes NMD
Paediatrics (6 - 11 years) - 300 mcg (0.3 mL) every 5 minutes NMD
Paediatrics (birth - 6 years) - 150 mcg (0.15 mL ever 5 minutes NMD
Asthmatics taking non-cardio-selective beta-blockers (propranolol) who receive IM or IV adrenaline may develop:
Severe hypertension
The correct adrenaline IM dose for a 4 year old with life-threatening asthma is:
150 mcg / 0.15mL
Adrenaline 1:10,000 is permitted to be administered as per normal when a patient is hypothermic. True or false
False - adrenaline cannot be administered in a core body temperature < 30 degrees
For patients with a core body temperature of 30 - 35 degrees, drug dose intervals must be doubled.
Adrenaline 1:10,000 dose and administration
Cardiac arrest (>12 years) - 1mg/10 mL every 3 - 5 minutes NMD
See JRCALC for patients < 12 years
Post ROSC circulatory support (All ages) - 50 mcg/0.5mL repeated at 50 mcg - 100 mcg every 3 - 5 minutes NMD
A 20 mL NaCl flush is required after all doses
Adrenaline (1mg/10mL) dose in shockable and non-shockable rhythms:
Shockable rhythms - administer adrenaline after the 3rd shock, and then after every second shock (5th, 7th, 9th…)
Non-shockable rhythms - immediate administration following access
Maximum dose of adrenaline (1mg/10mL) in cardiac arrest
There is no maximum
What is the one contra-indication for repeat doses of adrenaline in cardiac arrest?
Hypothermia (core temp < 30 degrees)
Oxygen is indicated for:
Significant injury or illness
Hypoxaemia
COPD
Cardiac arrest
Major trauma
Sepsis
Shock
CO poisoning
Seizures
Hypothermia
Amiodarone MOA
Antiarrhythmic; lengthens cardiac action potential and therefore effective refractory period. Prolongs QT interval on ECG.
Blocks sodium and potassium channels in cardiac muscle.
Acts to stabilise and reduce electrical irritability of cardiac muscle.
Contraindications to amiodarone
Hypothermia (core body temp < 30 degrees)
Amiodarone administration can result in:
Bradycardia
Vasodilation causing hypotension and cutaneous flushing
Bronchospasm
Torsades
Amiodarone dose and administration:
Cardiac arrest unresponsive to 3 x DCCS (adult) - 300 mg / 10 mL (pre-filled syringe) with a 20mL NaCl flush. Repeated at 150 mg after 5th shock for a maximum dose of 450 mg
See JRCALC for patients < 12 years
Amiodarone must be administered via…
Large bore cannula as extravasation can cause burns