EMT Drug Cards

Diphenhydramine

An anti-histamine medication that blocks the H1 & H2 receptors and has slight sedative effects.

Indications for Diphenhydramine

Used for anaphylaxis, simple allergic reactions, and extrapyramidal reactions.

Contraindications for Diphenhydramine

Allergy to the drug.

Adverse effects of Diphenhydramine

Dry mouth, dizziness, drowsiness, palpitations, hypotension, sedation.

Adult Dose of Diphenhydramine

25-50 mg IV/IO, IM, PO.

Pediatric Dose of Diphenhydramine

1-2 mg/kg (max dose is 25mg) IV/IO, IM, PO.

Oral Glucose

Carbohydrate gel that raises blood glucose levels.

Indication for Oral Glucose

Used for hypoglycemia.

Contraindications for Oral Glucose

Cannot maintain airway or consciousness and unable to obey commands.

Adverse effects of Oral Glucose

None in emergency settings.

Dose of Oral Glucose

Entire tube; 15 g PO.

Naloxone

An opioid antagonist that reverses opiate effects at the mu-opiate receptor.

Indication for Naloxone

Used for opiate overdose with respiratory depression (low RR).

Contraindications for Naloxone

None in EMS.

Adverse effects of Naloxone

Confusion, agitation, altered mental status (AMS), tachycardia.

Adult Dose of Naloxone

2-4 mg IN/IM | 0.4-2 mg IV/IO.

Pediatric Dose of Naloxone

0.1 mg/kg (max dose 2 mg).

Activated Charcoal

An adsorbent and antidote used to bind ingested drugs to deactivate them.

Indications for Activated Charcoal

Used for numerous oral poisons and medicine overdose.

Contraindications for Activated Charcoal

Corrosives, caustics, unable to obey commands or protect airway.

Adverse effects of Activated Charcoal

Nausea/Vomiting.

Adult Dose of Activated Charcoal

30-100 g PO.

Pediatric Dose of Activated Charcoal

1 g/kg PO.

Epinephrine

A sympathetic agonist that directly affects the A1, B1, & B2 receptors.

Indications for Epinephrine

Used for cardiac arrest (1:10,000) and asthma/anaphylaxis/COPD (1:1000).

Contraindications for Epinephrine

Hypersensitivity, tachycardia, hypertensive.

Adverse effects of Epinephrine

Nausea/Vomiting, headache, nervousness.

Adult Dose of Epinephrine

1 mg IV/IO every 3-5 minutes for cardiac arrest | 0.3 mg AAC | 5 mg nebulizer stridor

Pediatric Dose of Epinephrine

0.01 mg/kg.

Albuterol

A sympathomimetic that acts on beta 2 as an agonist, causing bronchodilation.

Indications for Albuterol

Used for asthma, anaphylaxis, COPD, hyperkalemia.

Contraindications for Albuterol

Hypersensitivity, congestive heart failure (CHF).

Adverse effects of Albuterol

Palpitations, tachycardia, headache.

Dose of Albuterol

2.5 mg mixed into mask or nebulizer.

Nitroglycerin

An anti-anginal agent that relaxes smooth muscle to decrease preload and oxygen demand.

Indications for Nitroglycerin

Used for acute coronary syndrome (ACS), congestive heart failure (CHF), chest pain.

Contraindications for Nitroglycerin

Hypersensitivity, recent ED medications used within last 48 hours, hypotension, right ventricular infarction

Adverse effects of Nitroglycerin

Dizziness, headache, hypotension.

Adult Dose of Nitroglycerin

0.4 mg SL every 3-5 minutes; 10-50 mcg IV.

Aspirin (ASA)

A non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that decreases inflammation and platelet aggregation.

Indications for Aspirin

Used for chest pain and acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Contraindications for Aspirin

Hypersensitivity, inability to chew.

Adverse effects of Aspirin

Gastrointestinal symptoms.

Dose of Aspirin

324 mg PO.

Oxygen (O2)

Medical gas that corrects hypoxia and oxygenates blood.

Indications for Oxygen

Used for low oxygen saturation (low SpO2), carbon monoxide poisoning, in conjunction with airway devices.

Contraindications for Oxygen

None if SpO2 is lower than 94%.

Adverse reactions of Oxygen

Drying of mucus membranes.

Dose of Oxygen

1-15 LPM depending on O2 device/setup.