Critical Care Drugs

 

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Class: Antiarrhythmic

Drug

Use

Concentration

Dose

Notes

Amiodarone (Cordarone®)

Management of life-threatening recurrent VF or hemodynamically unstable VT.

Standard: 900 mg/500 mL D5W

Bolus: 150 mg/100 mL D5W over 10 min

Standard: 1 mg/min (33.3 mL/hr) for 6 hrs then 0.5 mg/min (16.6 mL/hr)

Adverse Effects: Hypotension, bradycardia, proarrhythmic events, peripheral neuropathy, thyroid dysfunction, nausea, vomiting, pulmonary toxicity

Procainamide (Pronestyl®)

VT, PVC, PAT, A-fib

Standard:2 gm/500mL D5W, NS;

Max: 2 gm/250 mL

Bolus: 500 mg – 1 gm over 30 min

Standard: 1-6 mg/min

Adverse Effects: Hypotension, Av-block, bradycardia, lupus-like syndrome, fever, rash, thrombocytopenia and hemolytic anemia

Lidocaine (Xylocaine®)

ventricular arrhythmias

Standard:2 gm/500 mL

 1-4 mg/min

Adverse Effects: Confusion, hypotension, lightheadedness, diplopia, seizures, and tinnitus

Contraindicated in complete or 2nd degree AV block

Class: Beta Blockers

Drug

Use

Concentration

Dose

Notes

Esmolol (Breviblock®)

Control of ventricular rate in atrial fib/flutter and noncompensating sinus tachycardia

Standard: 2500 mg/250mL NS;
Max: 20 mg/mL in D5W, NS

Loading: 500 mcg/kg/min over 1 min

Maint.: 50 mcg/kg/min

If HR not controlled repeat loading dose and é rate by 50 mcg/kg/min (max 200 mcg/kg/min);

Central line recommended for max concentration

Contraindications: sinus bradycardia, AVB > 1°, cardiogenic shock

Class: Calcium Channel Blockers

Drug

Use

Concentration

Dose

Notes

Diltiazem (Cardizem®) HR control during atrial fib and flutter for 24 hours Standard: 125 mg/125 mL D5W, NS Loading: 0.25 mg/kg over 2 min; if inadequate response, 0.35 mg/kg over 2 min
Initial: 5 mg/hr
Max Rate: 15 mg/hr

HR, BP, pruritis

Contraindications:  AVB > 1°, WPW syndrome, V-tach, SSS, short PR syndrome
NiCARdipine (Cardene®) Antianginal, antihypertensive Standard: 25 mg/250 mL D5W, NS 5 mg/hr, increase by 2.5 mg/hr q 15 min to a max of 15 mg/hr
After response is achieved: 3 mg/hr

Adverse effects:  flushing, HR, palpitations, angina

Class: Inotrope

Drug

Use

Concentration

Dose

Notes

Milrinone (Primacor®) PCWP, SVR, MAP

Standard: 40 mg/200 mL D5W

Max. 40 mg/200 mL

Loading: 50 mcg/kg over 10 min

Maint: 0.375 – 0.75 mcg/kg/min
Adverse Effects:  PVC, ventricular arrhythmia, ventricular fib, SV arrhythmia, angina, hypotension, HA
DOBUTamine (Dobutrex®) SV, contractility, CO, HR Standard: 500 mg/250 mL D5W
Max: 1250 mg/250 mL D5W or NS

Initial: 1-5 mcg/kg/min up to 20 mcg; titrate by 1-4 mcg/kg/min q 10-30 min
Max Rate: 50 mcg/kg/min

Note:  alpha effects predominate above 10 mcg/kg/min)

Adverse Effects:  tachycardia, arrhythmia, HA, NV
Epinephrine (Adrenalin®) HR, contractility, cardiac workload PA pressures, CO, can convert asystole to NSR Standard: 4 mg/250 mL D5W, NS
Max: 1 mg/10 mL
Initial: 0.05-10 mcg/min, then titrate

Central line administration

Note:  at 20 mcg/min pure alpha effects occur)

Adverse Effects:  tachycardia, arrhythmia, PE, HTN, HA, resp. distress

Class: Sympathomimetics

Drug

Use

Concentration

Dose

Notes

DOPamine (Intropin®) BP, PCWP, HR

Standard: 800 mg/500 mL D5W
Max: 800 mg/250 mL D5W

Initial: 1-5 mcg/kg/min up to 20 mcg; titrate by 1-4 mcg/kg/min q 10-30 min
Max Rate
: 50 mcg/kg/min

Note:  alpha effects predominate above 10 mcg/kg/min)

Adverse Effects:  tachycardia, arrhythmia, HA, NV
Epinephrine (Adrenalin®) HR, contractility, cardiac workload PA pressures, CO, can convert asystole to NSR Standard: 4 mg/250 mL D5W, NS
Max: 1 mg/10 mL
Initial: 0.05-10 mcg/min, then titrate

Central line administration

Note:  at 20 mcg/min pure alpha effects occur)

Adverse Effects:  tachycardia, arrhythmia, PE, HTN, HA, resp. distress

Class: Sympathomimetic / Vasopressors

Drug

Use

Concentration

Dose

Notes

Norepinephrine (Levovphed®) BP, PA pressure, SVR, myocradial workload Standard:  4 mg/250 mL D5W only
Max: 16 mg/250mL D5W only
Initial:  0.5-1 mcg/min: titrate to desired response
Usual 2-30 mcg/min
Central line administration
Adverse Effects:  brady or tachycardia, peripheral vasoconstriction, HA, HTN, arrhythmia, ↓urine output, acidosis, hyperglycemia
Phenylephrine (Neo-Synephrine®) BP, SVRM, PA pressure, myocardial workload Standard: 100 units/100 mL D5W, NS Initial:  0.05 units/min
Max: 360 mcg/min
Maint Rate: 40-60 mcg/min

Adverse Effects:  arrhythmias, cardiac arrest, ↓CO, angina, myocardial ischemia and periph constriction.

Doses > 0.04 units/min associated with more cardiovascular adverse effects
Vasopressin (Pitressin®) For unlabeled use in septic shock Standard: 100 units/100mL D5W, NS Initial: 0.04 units/min
(range 0.01-0.04 units/min)
Central line administration

Class: Vasodilators

Drug

Use

Concentration

Dose

Notes

Sodium nitroprusside (Nipride®) BP, SVR, PCWP CO

Standard:  50 mg/250 mL D5W

Max: 100 mg/250 mL D5W
Average Dose: 3 mcg/kg/min
Max: 10 mcg/kg/min

Protect from light

Adverse Effects:  metabolic acidosis, severe hypotension, HA, nausea, dyspnea, LOC, thiocyanate toxicity (esp. with prolonged infusion > 2 mcg/kg/min)
Nitroglycerin (Tridyl®) BP, SVR, PCWP, may HR Standard: 50 mg/250 mL D5W Initial: 5 mcg/min, increasing by 5 mcg/min q 3-5 min up to 20 mcg/min
Max Rate doses of up to 640 mcg/min have been used
Then titrate in increments of 10-20 mcg/min up to 200 mcg/min

 Non PVC tubing

Adverse Effects:  severe hypotension, reflex tachycardia, HA, N/V

Associated with development of tolerance over 24-48 hrs.

Class: Miscellaneous

Drug

Use

Concentration

Dose

Notes

PENTObarbital (Nembutal®) Barbiturate used to induce coma Standard:  undiluted 50 mg/mL 10 mg/kg over 30 min, then 5 mg/kg/hr × 3 hours, then 1-2.5 mg/kg/hr thereafter
If ICP > 20 mg HG and pentobarb conc < 3 mg/dL may admin additional 5 mg/kg

Must be intubated.  Monitor EEG (i.e. burst suppression 30-45 sec) and hemodynamic status♦♦

Thiopental (Pentothal®) Barbiturate used to induce coma Standard:  25 mg/mL D5W, NS 20 mg/kg over 1 hour, then 10 mg/kg/hr × 6 hours, then 3 mg/kg/hr thereafter Must be intubated.  Monitor EEG (i.e. burst suppression 30-45 sec) and hemodynamic status♦♦
Methylprednisolone (Solumedrol®) For spinal cord injury  

Bolus: 30 mg/kg in 100 mL D5W NS over 30 minutes

Maint: 5.4 mg/kg in 500 mL × 23 hours
 
Argatroban (ARGATROBAN®)   Standard:  250 mg/250 mL D5W, NS Initial 2 mcg/kg/min
(0.5 mcg/kg/min in severe hepatic dysfunction)
 

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