Updated Emergency Drugs List: Emergency drugs and essential equipment play a crucial role in managing patients effectively in critical situations. A timely response to emergencies can significantly improve patient outcomes. Access to the correct emergency drugs and equipment is vital to enhancing survival rates for patients in need.
Emergency drugs can be categorized into two groups. The first includes essential drugs that should always be available in emergency kits. The second group comprises optional drugs, depending on the practitioner's training and the use of sedation and general anesthesia for managing behavioral issues and anxiety. Below is the updated emergency drugs list.
Emergency Drugs List
The following is a basic emergency drug kit appropriate for use in dental offices.
| Drug | Indication | Dose | Quantity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oxygen | Almost any emergency | 100% inhalation | 1 “E” cylinder with adjustable regulator (0-15L) |
| Epinephrine | Anaphylaxis Asthma unresponsive to albuterol/salbutamol |
1: 1000 (1mg/ml), auto injector 0.3 mg/ml (EpiPen), 0.15 mg/ml (EpiPen Jr) | 1:1000 mg/ml ampule, 1 EpiPen, 1 EpiPen Jr auto injectors |
| Nitroglycerin | Angina pain | 0.4 mg sublingual every 3-5 minutes | 1 metered spray bottle (0.4 mg) |
| Diphenhydramine | Allergic reactions | 1 mg/kg IM/IV; max 50 mg (Refer to dosage by age in table 2) |
50 mg/ml vials and 1 box 25 mg tablets |
| Albuterol/salbutamol | Asthmatic bronchospasm | 2 puffs; repeat as needed | Metered dose inhaler 2.5 mg/3ml nebulized solution |
| Aspirin | Myocardial infarction | 81 mg chewable tablet | Chewable tablet, bottle baby aspirin (81 mg) |
| Glucose | Hypoglycemia (patient unconscious) |
37.5 mg; repeat as needed | 1 tube (37.5 mg) |
Next, discover the doses and actions of essential emergency drugs.
Emergency Drug Doses and Their Actions List
| Drug (Concentration) and Indication | Dose | Administration / Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Adenosine (3 mg/ml) Acute treatment of supraventricular tachycardia |
1st dose 0.1 mg/kg; 2nd dose 0.2 mg/kg; 3rd dose 0.3 mg/kg | Administer as a rapid IV push over 1-2 seconds. Flush with 5-20 ml NS. |
| Atropine (0.1 mg/ml) Bradycardia |
0.02 mg/kg/dose IV | Can repeat one dose in 3 minutes. |
| Calcium gluconate (100 mg/ml) Cardiac arrest Hypocalcemia |
100 mg/kg/dose IV Not for IM or SQ use |
May repeat x 1 dose based on ionized calcium results. |
| Dextrose 10% (0.1 Gm/ml) Hypoglycemia Hyperkalemia |
0.2 Gm/kg/dose IV; then a continuous infusion at 4-8 mg/kg/min. | Monitor glucose levels and adjust dosages accordingly. |
| Dopamine Hypotension |
Start at 5 mcg/kg/min, can increase as needed up to 20 mcg/kg/min. | Administer into a central vein when possible. |
| Epinephrine 1:10,000 (0.1 mg/ml) Resuscitation |
0.1-0.3 ml/kg/dose IV, IO, provide continuous infusion as needed. | Perform rapid pushes and may repeat every 3-5 minutes. |
| Fentanyl (50 mcg/ml) Analgesia Sedation |
1 mcg/kg | Monitor closely for sedation levels. |
| Hydralazine (20 mg/ml) Hypertension |
0.1-0.5 mg/kg | Use with caution; doses greater than 2 mg should be considered with monitoring. |
| Lorazepam (2 mg/ml) Sedation |
0.05-01 mg/kg | Slow IV push; repeat as needed for seizures. |
| Morphine (1 mg/ml) Pain |
0.05-0.1 mg/kg | Administer slowly by IV push. |
| Naloxone (1 mg/ml) Narcotic antagonist |
0.1 ml/kg rapid IV push, may repeat if no response. | Use with caution and monitor patient. |
| Phenobarbital (65 mg/ml) Anticonvulsant |
15 – 20 mg/kg For refractory seizures- additional 5 mg/kg doses can be given. |
Administer slowly and monitor closely for efficacy. |
| Sodium Bicarbonate 4.2% (0.5 mEq/ml) Metabolic acidosis |
1 – 2 mEq/kg | Infuse slowly over a minimum of 30 minutes. |
| Vecuronium (1 mg/ml) Paralysis Rapid Sequence Intubation |
0.1 mg/kg | Administer IV push cautiously. |
| Volume Expanders (RBCs, NS) Hypotension and Hypovolemia |
RBCs: 15 ml/kg IV; NS: 10 ml/kg IV | Infuse RBCs over 4 hours, NS at least 10-30 minutes. |
Essential Medicine List for SHC & PHC Level
For more guidance, download the essential medicine list for SHC & PHC level from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare from the link below.
Emergency Medicines List PDF
Download the emergency medicines list designed for the emergency department from the following link:
www.moh.gov.om
Emergency Drug Guidelines PDF
For a comprehensive guide, download the second edition of emergency drug guidelines from the link below:
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Informative Article.