Summary NREMT Paramedic Drugs (Verified)
ACETAMINOPHEN
Class: Anti-pyretic
Indications: Fever
Contraindications: Liver failure; hypersensitivity; exceed max dose
Side effects: Liver toxicity
Adult Dose: 1 g q 6 hours; max 4 g in 24 hours
Pediatric Dose: 15 mg/kg q 6 hours
Special info: Tylenol
ADENOSINE
TRADE NAME: Adenocard
CLASS: Antiarrhythmic
ACTIONS: Slows (decreases) AV conduction
INDICATIONS: Symptomatic PSVT, including Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome (WPW)
PHARMACOKINETICS:
Onset: 20 - 35 seconds
Peak Effect: 20 - 35 seconds
Duration: 30 - 120 seconds
Half Life: 10 seconds
CONTRAINDICATIONS: Second or third degree heart block, sick-sinus syndrome,
known
hypersensitivity to the drug, dysrhythmias other than PSVT, reactive airway diseases
like asthmea.
PRECAUTIONS: Arrhythmias, including blocks, are common at the time of
cardioversion.
Use with caution in patients with asthma.
SIDE EFFECTS:
CNS: Dizziness, near syncope, syncope
CV: PVCs, PACs, sinus tachycardia, sinus bradycardia, AV blocks, chest pain, facial
flushing,
headache
Resp: SOB, bronchoconstriction
GI/GU: Nausea
DOSAGE:
ADULT: 6 mg rapid IV bolus over 1-2s; after 1-2 minutes, 12-mg dose over 1-2
seconds.
PEDIATRIC: Initial dose: 0.1mg/kg; max 1st does = 6mg; Rapid IV bolus w/5cc flush
ROUTES: IV with 20cc flush
ALBUTEROL
TRADE NAME: Proventil, Ventolin
CLASS: Sympathetic Agonist
DESCRIPTION: Sympathomimetic bronchodilator selective for β2 adrenergic receptors
ACTIONS: Selective direct acting β2 agonist
INDICATIONS: Bronchial asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, allergic
, bronchospasm,
or other reversible bronchospasm
PHARMACOKINETICS:
Onset: 5 - 15 minutes
Peak Effect: 1 - 1.5 hours
Duration: 3 - 6 hours
Half Life: < 3 hours
CONTRAINDICATIONS: Know hypersensitivity to Albuterol.
SIDE EFFECTS:
CNS: Tremor, anxiety, dizziness, seizure
CV: Headache, palpations, HTN, tachycardia, chest pain
Resp: Bronchospasm (paradoxical effect)
GI/GU: Nausea, vomiting, dry mouth
DOSAGE For patients in emergency setting:
ADULT: Nebulizer: 2.5mg in 3cc normal saline or 5mg in 6cc normal saline via HHN
over 5 - 15 min.
Repeat 10-20 min. prn, maximum 10mg/hr (4 treatments) MDI- 1-2 inhalations (90mcg
each)
many repeat every 15 minutes prn.
PEDIATRIC: 0.15 mg/kg in 2.5-3.0 ml NS via HHN. Repeat prn.
ROUTES: Nebulizer, metered-dose inhaler (MDI)
PACKAGED: Premixed unit dose of 2.5mg in 2.5ml NS.
AMIODARONE
TRADE NAME: Cordarone, Pacerone
CLASS: Antiarrhythmic
ACTIONS: Prolongs action potential and refractory period. Slows the sinus rate;
Increases PR
and QT intervals. Decreases Peripheral vascular resistance.
INDICATIONS: Life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias such as ventriculartachycardia
and ventricular fibrillation.
PHARMACOKINETICS:
Onset: 2 minutes IV. Oral: 2-3 days
Peak Effect: 6 - 20 minutes
Duration: Varies
Half Life: Varies, 30 - 100 days post oral administration
CONTRAINDICATIONS: Hypersensitivity to Amiodarone, heart failure, severe sinus
node dysfunction
(sinus bradycardia, 2nd Π3rd degree blocks), cardiogenic shock
SIDE EFFECTS:
CNS: dizziness
CV: Headache, bradycardia, hypotension, sinus arrest, prolonged PR, QRS, QT
intervals, CHF,
AV block, cardiogenic shock, palpations, chest pain
Resp: Dyspnea, pulmonary fibrosis
GI/GU: Nausea, vomiting
ACETAMINOPHEN
Class: Anti-pyretic
Indications: Fever
Contraindications: Liver failure; hypersensitivity; exceed max dose
Side effects: Liver toxicity
Adult Dose: 1 g q 6 hours; max 4 g in 24 hours
Pediatric Dose: 15 mg/kg q 6 hours
Special info: Tylenol
ADENOSINE
TRADE NAME: Adenocard
CLASS: Antiarrhythmic
ACTIONS: Slows (decreases) AV conduction
INDICATIONS: Symptomatic PSVT, including Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome (WPW)
PHARMACOKINETICS:
Onset: 20 - 35 seconds
Peak Effect: 20 - 35 seconds
Duration: 30 - 120 seconds
Half Life: 10 seconds
CONTRAINDICATIONS: Second or third degree heart block, sick-sinus syndrome,
known
hypersensitivity to the drug, dysrhythmias other than PSVT, reactive airway diseases
like asthmea.
PRECAUTIONS: Arrhythmias, including blocks, are common at the time of
cardioversion.
Use with caution in patients with asthma.
SIDE EFFECTS:
CNS: Dizziness, near syncope, syncope
CV: PVCs, PACs, sinus tachycardia, sinus bradycardia, AV blocks, chest pain, facial
flushing,
headache
Resp: SOB, bronchoconstriction
GI/GU: Nausea
DOSAGE:
ADULT: 6 mg rapid IV bolus over 1-2s; after 1-2 minutes, 12-mg dose over 1-2
seconds.
PEDIATRIC: Initial dose: 0.1mg/kg; max 1st does = 6mg; Rapid IV bolus w/5cc flush
ROUTES: IV with 20cc flush
ALBUTEROL
TRADE NAME: Proventil, Ventolin
CLASS: Sympathetic Agonist
DESCRIPTION: Sympathomimetic bronchodilator selective for β2 adrenergic receptors
ACTIONS: Selective direct acting β2 agonist
INDICATIONS: Bronchial asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, allergic
, bronchospasm,
or other reversible bronchospasm
PHARMACOKINETICS:
Onset: 5 - 15 minutes
Peak Effect: 1 - 1.5 hours
Duration: 3 - 6 hours
Half Life: < 3 hours
CONTRAINDICATIONS: Know hypersensitivity to Albuterol.
SIDE EFFECTS:
CNS: Tremor, anxiety, dizziness, seizure
CV: Headache, palpations, HTN, tachycardia, chest pain
Resp: Bronchospasm (paradoxical effect)
GI/GU: Nausea, vomiting, dry mouth
DOSAGE For patients in emergency setting:
ADULT: Nebulizer: 2.5mg in 3cc normal saline or 5mg in 6cc normal saline via HHN
over 5 - 15 min.
Repeat 10-20 min. prn, maximum 10mg/hr (4 treatments) MDI- 1-2 inhalations (90mcg
each)
many repeat every 15 minutes prn.
PEDIATRIC: 0.15 mg/kg in 2.5-3.0 ml NS via HHN. Repeat prn.
ROUTES: Nebulizer, metered-dose inhaler (MDI)
PACKAGED: Premixed unit dose of 2.5mg in 2.5ml NS.
AMIODARONE
TRADE NAME: Cordarone, Pacerone
CLASS: Antiarrhythmic
ACTIONS: Prolongs action potential and refractory period. Slows the sinus rate;
Increases PR
and QT intervals. Decreases Peripheral vascular resistance.
INDICATIONS: Life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias such as ventriculartachycardia
and ventricular fibrillation.
PHARMACOKINETICS:
Onset: 2 minutes IV. Oral: 2-3 days
Peak Effect: 6 - 20 minutes
Duration: Varies
Half Life: Varies, 30 - 100 days post oral administration
CONTRAINDICATIONS: Hypersensitivity to Amiodarone, heart failure, severe sinus
node dysfunction
(sinus bradycardia, 2nd Π3rd degree blocks), cardiogenic shock
SIDE EFFECTS:
CNS: dizziness
CV: Headache, bradycardia, hypotension, sinus arrest, prolonged PR, QRS, QT
intervals, CHF,
AV block, cardiogenic shock, palpations, chest pain
Resp: Dyspnea, pulmonary fibrosis
GI/GU: Nausea, vomiting
