Learn Emergency Drugs for Healthcare Providers

Furosemide is a potent loop diuretic for acute fluid overload, including pulmonary edema, heart failure exacerbations, and hyperkalemia, by inhibiting sodium potassium chloride transporter in the ascending loop of Henle.

Labetalol blocks alpha and beta receptors to quickly lower blood pressure without reflex tachycardia, useful in hypertensive crisis, aortic dissection, and severe preeclampsia.

Nimodipine, a cerebral vasculature-selective calcium channel blocker, prevents cerebral vasospasm and delayed cerebral ischemia after subarachnoid hemorrhage, preserving neuronal function and serving as the standard of care.

Nitroglycerin dilates veins and arteries to reduce preload and afterload, helping angina and heart failure. IV dosing is titratable, starting at 5–10 mcg/min, increasing by 10 mcg/min every 3–5 minutes.

Administer nitroprusside to rapidly lower blood pressure in hypertensive emergencies through nitric oxide–mediated vasodilation. Use titratable dosing (0.3 to 10 mcg/kg/min) and monitor for cyanide toxicity and methemoglobinemia.

Glucagon activates cyclic AMP to promote glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis, treating beta blocker and calcium channel toxicities and hypoglycemia with 3–10 mg IV loading or 1 mg IV/IM/SC for hypoglycemia.

Hydrocortisone, a corticosteroid, treats adrenal insufficiency, septic shock, and status asthmaticus with glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid effects, emphasizing dosing and tapering to avoid adrenal suppression.

Regular insulin given iv treats hyperkalemia, calcium channel blocker overdose, and dka/hhs by promoting glucose uptake and intracellular potassium shift; only regular insulin is iv suitable.

Norepinephrine is the first line vasopressor for hypotension unresponsive to fluids, raising blood pressure via alpha-1 vasoconstriction and beta-1 cardiac effects, given via central line with titration and perfusion monitoring.

Haloperidol, a potent dopamine antagonist, quickly calms agitation and psychosis by blocking D1 and D2 receptors. Monitor for extrapyramidal symptoms and qt prolongation, and use the lowest effective dose.

Learn how lorazepam, a benzodiazepine that enhances GABA, treats delirium tremens, status epilepticus, serotonin syndrome, and agitation, with bolus or infusion dosing and safety cautions.

Methohexital, an ultra short-acting barbiturate, enhances GABA activity to induce rapid, brief procedural sedation, requiring careful dosing and continuous monitoring of the CNS and cardiovascular systems.

Midazolam, a rapid-acting benzodiazepine, supports seizure control, procedural and ventilator sedation, and rapid sequence intubation by enhancing GABA activity and providing sedation, anxiolysis, and amnesia.

Use propofol as a short-acting intravenous sedative for procedural sedation, rapid sequence intubation, and ventilator sedation, with rapid onset and recovery via GABAa receptor agonism and sodium channel blockade.

Rocuronium provides rapid sequence endotracheal intubation–level paralysis by antagonizing nicotinic receptors, with 30–60 minute duration and reversal options via Sugammadex or neostigmine.

Learn how succinylcholine rapidly induces complete skeletal muscle paralysis for emergent airway management and rapid sequence intubation, with short duration and route-dependent dosing.

Administer heparin to prevent venous thromboembolism and stabilize acute coronary syndrome by binding to antithrombin three and inactivating thrombin and other clotting factors.

Protamine sulfate reverses heparin-induced bleeding by neutralizing heparin. Dose: 1 mg per 100 units heparin, max 50 mg, infused ≤5 mg/min; monitor for anaphylaxis, hypotension, bradycardia, and pregnancy risk.

Hydromorphone is a potent opioid agonist for rapid pain relief and sedation in emergencies, commonly used in the ER, with 1–2 mg IV dosing every 3–6 hours.

Ketamine, an NMDA receptor antagonist, enables analgesia, sedation, and rapid sequence intubation with dissociative anesthesia and preserved airway reflexes.

Morphine, an opioid agonist acting at mu receptors, provides analgesia, sedation, and vasodilation for acute pain in emergencies. Start at 0.1 mg/kg IV, monitor respiration, BP, and SpO2.

Magnesium sulfate serves as a multitask emergency drug, blocking calcium channels and NMDA receptors to prevent seizures and relax bronchi in eclampsia, torsades de pointes, arrhythmias, and severe asthma.

Mannitol lowers intracranial pressure and cerebral edema through osmotic and diuretic actions, with 1 g/kg IV dosing and careful monitoring of osmolarity, renal function, and electrolytes in neurocritical care.

Methylprednisolone, a potent corticosteroid, treats severe asthma, Pneumocystis pneumonia, and acute hypersensitivity reactions by suppressing cytokines, reducing inflammatory cell migration, and stabilizing membranes through glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid activity.

Learn how sodium bicarbonate alkalinizes serum and urine to treat hyperkalemia, tricyclic antidepressant toxicity, salicylate toxicity, and metabolic acidosis, with dosing and safety considerations.

Metoclopramide blocks dopamine receptors in the chemoreceptor trigger zone to prevent nausea and vomiting and acts as a prokinetic to boost gastric emptying, aiding gastroparesis and postoperative or chemotherapy-induced nausea.