Definition
Critical care medications also known as emergency drugs, are the drugs administered to a patient in emergency situation in order to treat and stabilize the patient as early as possible.
Commonly used emergency drugs
A) Life Saving Drugs-Drugs Commonly Placed in Crash Carts or Emergency Trolley
Crash cart medications
- (2) Amiodarone
- (1) Atropine 1 mg
- (2) Vasopressin
- (2) Calcium gluconate
- (1) Dextrose 50% 5 mL
- (2) Isuprel
- (4) Epinephrine 1 mg
- (3) Lidocaine 100 mg
- (2) Tridil (nitroglycerin)
- (2) Pronestyl
- (2) Nipride
- (2) Verapamil
- (1) Magnesium sulfate
- (2) Sodium Bicarbonate 50 mEq
- Dopamine
- (2) Lasix
- (2) Dobutamine
B) System-wise Emergency Drugs-Common Emergency Drugs used in the Casualty Department or Emergency Department in India
Analgesics
| Paracetamol | Pain reliever and antipyretic for fever. |
| Diclofenac | NSAID used to treat mild to moderate pain. |
| Drotaverine (Drotin) | Antispasmodic drug used to treat renal colic and abdominal pain. |
| Tramadol (Tramatas) | Narcotic analgesic used to treat moderate to severe pain. |
| Valethamate bromide (Epidosin) | Antispasmodic drug used to treat abdominal pain. |
Cardiac drugs
| Adrenaline (Epinephrine) | Sympathomimetic agent used in cardiac arrest and emergency treatment of allergic reactions (Type l) including anaphylaxis. |
| Noradrenaline (Norad) | Catecholamine and inotropic agent used to temporarily correct profound hypotension before fluid replacement therapy can work. |
| Dopamine (Domin) | Catecholamine and inotropic agent used to treat certain conditions, such as low pressure, that occur when you are in shock, which may be caused by heart attack, trauma, surgery, heart failure, kidney failure, and other serious medical conditions. |
| Amiodarone | Antiarrhythmic agent that is used to treat ventricular arrhythmias and atrial fibrillation. |
| Dobutamine (dotamin) | Catecholamine and inotropic agent used to treat heart failure. |
| Torsemide | Loop diuretic used to treat edema from congestive heart failure (CHF), liver disease, or a kidney disorder such as nephrotic syndrome. |
| Furosemide (Lasix) | Loop diuretic used to treat edema from congestive heart failure (CHF), liver disease, or akidnev disorder, such as nephrotic syndrome. |
| Digoxin (Dixin) | Heart failure, atrial fibrillation. |
| Nitroglycerin (Nitrocin) | Used for treating high blood pressure, CHF, MI and chest pain. |
Respiratory drugs
| Etophylline and theophylline | Bronchodilators used to treat symptoms and blockage of airway due to asthma or other luna diseases (e.g.,emphysema, bronchitis). |
| Dexamethasone | Corticosteroid used to treat allergic disorders, skin conditions, ulcerative colitis, arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, or breathing disorders. |
| Budesonide nebulizer (derinide) | Corticosteroid, inhalation drug used for bronchial asthma. |
| Levosalbutamol and Ipratropium Bromide (Duolin/Combimist) | Bronchodilator used to treat wheezing and breathlessness caused by underlying lung disease. |
| Acetylcysteine solution (Mucocyst) | Mucolytic used to treat abnormal, sticky, or thick mucus secretions in various lung problems, such as cough. |
Central nervous system drugs
| Epsolin (phenytoin) | antiepileptic drug used to control seizures. |
| Phenobarbitone sodium | barbiturates used as sedative hypnotics and also anticonvulsive. |
| Magnesium sulfate | seizures associated with eclampsia and pre-eclampsia. |
| Lorazepam (Lopez) | Lorazepam used to produce sedation needed in seizures, particularly status epilepticus; anti-anxiety drug, anticonvulsant. |
| Diazepam (Lori) | Benzodiazepine used to produce sedation needed in seizures, particularly status epilepticus; anti-anxiety drug, anticonvulsant. |
| Prochlorperazine mesylate (Stemetil) | Phenothiazine neuroleptic used to treat acute mania and short-term treatment of anxiety. It may also be used to treat the symptoms of nausea and vomiting. |
Gastrointestinal drugs
| Drotaverine (Drotin) | Antispasmodic drug used to treat renal colic and abdominal pain. |
| Valethamate bromide (Epidosin) | Antispasmodic drug used to treat abdominal pain. |
Obstetric drugs
| Drotaverine (Drotin)- | Spasmolytic agent used to enhance cervical dilation during childbirth. |
| Tranexamic acid | Coagulation modifier used to reduce bleeding. |
| Magnesium sulfate | Used as tocolytic to stop preterm labor. |
| Valethamate bromide (Epidosin) | Spasmolytic agent used to facilitate labor in cervical spasm. |
| Methylergometrine maleate (Methergine) | Uterine stimulant used to treat postpartum or post-abortal uterine bleeding. |
Drugs used in allergy
| Pheniramine maleate (Avil) | Antihistamine drug used for allergic conditions, such as hay fever, runny nose, itching skin and skin rashes. |
| Hydrocortisone 100 ma (Efcorlin) | Corticosteroid used for allergies, arthritis, asthma, multiple sclerosis, and skin conditions. |
| Dexamethasone | Corticosteroid used to treat allergic disorders, skin conditions, ulcerative colitis, arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, or breathing disorder. |
| Promethazine | Antihistamine drug used to treat allergy such as itching, runny nose, sneezing, itchy or watery eyes, hives, and itchy skin rashes. |
Drugs used as antibiotics
- Ceftriaxone (Monocef).
- Amikacin (Amiject).
- Gentamicin (Ranbiotic).
Miscellaneous drugs
| Tranexamic acid | Anti-fibrinolytic used to reduce bleeding |
| Tetanus vaccine | Vaccine given after RTA, wounds from metals, etc, to prevent tetanus. |
| Succinylcholine | Muscle relaxant used for relaxing muscle and also used as general anaesthesia. |
| Phytomenadione | Vitamin K, used to reduce bleeding. |
| Thiocolchicoside | Muscle relaxant with anti-inflammatory and analgesic actions. |
| Hemocoagulase (Botropase) | Coagulative and antihemorrhagic properties. |
| Calcium gluconate injection | Mineral supplement used for hypocalcemic tetany. |
| Ranitidine hydrochloride (Zindac) | H2 Blocker given mostly with other drugs, also used to treat ulcers in the stomach and intestines. |
| Ondansetron (Vomikind) | Antiemetic used to prevent nausea and vomiting. |
| Metaclopramide (Perinorm) | Antiemetic used to prevent nausea and vomiting. |
| L-Ornithine aspartate (Hepamerz) | Stable salt of ornithine and aspartic acid used to treat high ammonia levels or severe liver impairment, end-stage cirrhosis. |
| Cholecalciferol (Dewin) | Vitamin D3 used for hypocalcemia, osteomalacia |
REFERENCES
- Annamma Jacob, Rekha, Jhadav Sonali Tarachand: Clinical Nursing Procedures: The Art of Nursing Practice, 5th Edition, March 2023, Jaypee Publishers, ISBN-13: 978-9356961845 ISBN-10: 9356961840
- Omayalachi CON, Manual of Nursing Procedures and Practice, Vol 1, 3 Edition 2023, Published by Wolters Kluwer’s, ISBN: 978-9393553294
- Sandra Nettina, Lippincott Manual of Nursing Practice, 11th Edition, January 2019, Published by Wolters Kluwers, ISBN-13:978-9388313285
- Adrianne Dill Linton, Medical-Surgical Nursing, 8th Edition, 2023, Elsevier Publications, ISBN: 978-0323826716
- Donna Ignatavicius, Medical-Surgical Nursing: Concepts for Clinical Judgment and Collaborative Care, 11th Edition ,2024, Elsevier Publications, ISBN: 978-0323878265
- Lewis’s Medical-Surgical Nursing, 12th Edition,2024, Elsevier Publications, ISBN: 978-0323789615
- AACN Essentials of Critical Care Nursing, 5th Ed. Sarah. Delgado, 2023, Published by American Association of Critical-Care Nurses ISBN: 978-1264269884
- Ernstmeyer K, Christman E, editors. Nursing Fundamentals [Internet]. 2nd edition. Eau Claire (WI): Chippewa Valley Technical College; 2024. PART IV, NURSING PROCESS. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK610818/
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