special considerations Flashcards
acetaminophen
Pregnancy Safety: Category B
activated charcoal
● Shake vigorously before use.
● Contact medical control before administering in cases of acetaminophen OD.
● Charcoal aspiration can produce an unmanageable airway.
● Aspiration of emesis containing charcoal can induce fatal pneumonitis.
● Use caution in patients with abdominal pain of unknown origin.
● Do not use charcoal with sorbitol additive in pediatrics
adenosine
● Record a rhythm strip to capture the rhythm before and after administration.
● Reduce the dose by 50% in patients with heart transplants, patients taking
dipyridamole or carbamazepine, or if administered via central line
albuterol
● No benefit shown in bronchiolitis
amiodorone
● Monitor for hypotension and increasing PR and QT intervals
aspirin
Not recommended for children due to risk of reye syndrome
atropine sulfate
● Paradoxical bradycardia can occur with doses less than 0.1mg
● Ineffective in hypothermic bradycardia and patients with AV blocks or heart
transplants.
● Use with caution in myocardial ischemia
calcium chloride
● Infiltration can cause severe tissue necrosis. Do not administer IM/SQ.
● Calcium gluconate is preferred in pediatric calcium channel blocker OD
calcium gluconate
● Infiltration can cause severe tissue necrosis. Do not administer IM/SQ.
● Calcium gluconate is preferred in pediatric calcium channel blocker OD due to
increased risk of tissue damage with calcium chloride
dexamethasone
Can increase BGL in diabetic patients
dextrose
● For children younger than 8 years, do not use concentrations higher than D25.
● Co-administer thiamine to alcoholic or malnourished patients to prevent
Wernicke’s encephalopathy.
● Do not administer to known stroke unless hypoglycemia is documented.
● Extravasation may lead to severe tissue necrosis - aspirate the syringe during
administration to ensure IV patency and use a large vein
diazepam
● Consider decreasing the dose by 50% in patients older than 60 years.
● CANA contains 10mg of diazepam for use in ACH poisoning
diltiazem
none
diphenydramine hydrochloride
● Pregnancy Safety: Category B
● Increases effectiveness of epinephrine
● Can be given with any H2-blocking antihistamine
dopamine hydrochloride
● Extravasation may cause necrosis and sloughing of surrounding tissue.
● Utilize infusion pump to ensure accurate dosing.
● Slow or stop the infusion if tachydysrhythmias or increased ventricular ectopy is
observed.
● Sudden cessation of infusion can result in significant hypotension
epinephrine
none
etomidate
● No analgesic properties
● Avoid administration into small veins because it is highly irritating
● Consider decreasing the dose in older patients and cardiac patients
● Etomidate can suppress adrenal gland production of steroid hormones and
cortisol, temporarily causing adrenal gland failure
fentanyl citrate
● 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine
flumazenil
● Use in drug overdoses that are not from benzodiazepines may result in death.
● Be prepared to manage seizures in benzodiazepine-dependent patients.
● If treating status epilepticus with benzodiazepines, do not use flumazenil to
reverse accidental overdose.
● Do not use as a diagnostic medication for differential diagnosis
furosemide
● Rapid administration can cause ototoxicity and projectile vomiting
● Furosemide is being phased out due to nephrotoxic side effects. Use with caution
in patients with renal dysfunction
glucagon
● Pregnancy Safety: Category B
● Ineffective if glycogen stores are depleted
● Not recommended for use in lactating mothers
glucose, oral
none