Pharmacology of emergency medications

cardiorespiratory arrest

cardiac arrest

heart stops pumping blood

respiratory arrest

pt unable to breathe

American Heart Association

CPR with in 4 mins

high survival rate

ACLS

BLS

imaging technologist

epinephrine(adrenaline)

first-line treatment

most valuable

mimics nervous system

produced by adrenal gland

vasopressin(pitressin)

equivalent to endogenous ADH

increases blood flow to vital organs

alternative to epinephrine

dopamine(intropine)

equivalent to endogenous dopamine

stimulates dopamine receptors

second-line therapy

atropine

antimuscarinic agent

inhibits acetylcholine/cholinergenic stimuli at muscarinic receptors

used for slow heart rates

lidocaine(xylocaine)

most frequently used antidysrhythmic drug

blocks sodium channels

treats ventricular dysrhythmias

amiodarone

suppresses dysrhythmias

antidysrhythmic drug

used for pulseless ventricular tachycardia

sodium bicarbonate

strong alkalanizing agent

liberates bicarbonation

treats severe metabolic/respiratory acidosis