The is a collection of the most common medications encountered in emergency treatment (in my own experience). It is by no means exhaustive. On the contrary, I have made effort to remove medications that although may be textbook standards of care, I have not encountered in practice, or medications that may be falling out of favor, but still part of some medical teams' treatment plans. For example, Lidocaine is not included, rather only Amiodarone. Add to the list by commenting below! Some medicines may be more common in EMS, Intensive Care, or post admission hospitalist care. But as more patients are boarded within the walls of the ED, understanding of these medications (primarily drips) is very necessary. The medications are listed first by pharmacological category and subsequently by order of importance (I.e. which one should I learn first). AIRWAY MANAGEMENT Albuterol Ipratropium ANTIBIOTICS Azithromycin - macrolide Vancomycin - glycopeptide Piperacillin/Tazobactam (Zosyn) - beta-lactamase inhibitor Ampicillin/Sulbactam (Unasyn) - beta-lactamase inhibitor Metronidazole (Flagyl) - bacterial & Amebicidal Ciprofloxacin- fluoroquinolones Ceftriaxone (Rocephin) - 3rd cephalosporin Cefazolin - 1st cephalosporin Clindamycin - Lincomycin derivative Doxycycline - tetracycline Amoxicillin and Clavulanate - beta-lactamase inhibitor Bacitracin SIEZURE/NEUROLOGICAL Phenytoin PSYCHIATRIC Lorazepam Midazolam (Versed) Haloperidol ANTIARHYTHMICS/ELECTRIC MANIPULATORS Amiodarone Procainamide Adenosine MYOCARDIAL MANAGEMENT Diltiazem Digoxin Dobutamine Esmolol Magnesium BLOOD PRESSOR MANAGEMENT/FLUID MANAGEMENT Lebetalol Metoprolol Norepinephrine Epinephrine Dopamine Nitroglycerine Furosemide Mannitol Phenylephrine ANTICOAGULANTS/THROMBOLYTICS Aspirin tPA Heparin Enoxaparin ANTIEMETICS/ANTACIDS Ondansetron Metoclopramide Meclizine Famotidine (Pepcid) Esomeprazole (Nexium) Pantoprazole (Protonix) Milk of Magnesia SEDATION/INDUCTION/PARALYSIS Rocuronium Succinylcholine Etomidate Ketamine Propofol DERMATOLOGY Silver Sulfadiazine INFLAMMATION Dexamethasone Prednisone/Prednisolone Methylprednisolone (Solu-Medrol) Diphenhydramine PAIN Hydromorphone Morphine Tramadol Fentanyl Ibuprofen Acetaminophen Ketorolac Oxycodone Hydrocodone Percocet (oxycodone/aceta) Norco (hydrocodone/aceta) Vicodin (hydrocodone/aceta) GLUCOSE MANAGEMENT Insulin Aspart (Novolog) Regular Insulin (Humulin) Dextrose 50 ANTIDOTES Naloxone Flumazenil Protamine Sulfate Phentolamine N-acetylcysteine Activated Charcoal Methylene Blue Cyanide Kit CONTRAST DYES Gastrographin IV Constrast The following medications are generally not mainstays of classic emergency treatment. But do play a role in the right patient. In addition they are are commonly taken by our patients on a regular basis, or we will need to provide teaching for patents being prescribed these medications. OUTPATIENT/INPATIENT MEDS Clopidogrel Rivaroxaban Verapamil Atorvastatin The following medications will be contained in any crash cart. However these medications have many uses outside of the realm of rapid decompensation and cardiopulmonary events. CRASH CART MEDICATIONS Atropine Calcium Chloride 10% Calcium Gluconate Sodium Bicarbonate Vasopressin DANGEROUS NOT TO KNOW (These medicines are for high acuity patients. You may not need them often, but when you do, you may not have time to check your reference. A mistake could cause serious M&M, or might be result in a terrible experience for the patient) Epinephrine Rocuronium Succinylcholine Etomidate Ketamine Propofol rtPA Nitroglycerine Norepinephrine Diltiazem Lebetalol Metoprolol LIKE THE BACK OF YOUR HAND Insulin Morphine Fentanyl Heparin MEAT AND POTATOES, LEARN THEM WELL Albuterol Ipratropium Lorazepam Famotidine (Pepcid) Dexamethasone Ondansetron Metoclopramide Meclizine All antibiotics PEARLS Know which class of antibiotic a particular antibiotic falls into. When a patient tells you about a penicillin allergy, it's in everyone's best interest that you do not administer any beta-lactams. **Please add to what I have forgotten! Or any pearls about these meds** 4 Likes More Like This Pushing Back on a "Pill for every Ill" by Kristi Van Winkle, BSN, RN Resident Resistant To Taking Meds by tqfamily Leftovers (meds, not food...) by Jedrnurse, BSN, RN Checking Meds As A New Nurse by Journey_On, BSN, RN 67 Medications Every New ER Nurse Must Master! by Michael M. Heuninckx
RNCEN Specializes in ER. Has 5 years experience. 234 Posts May 22, 2015 Unless I missed it, Nicardipine is not on that list. Easily titratable, and wonderful for htn management especially in stroke/head injured patients. 2 Likes
heather in ohio Specializes in ICU. Has 11 years experience. 40 Posts Jun 1, 2015 Glucagon could also be listed as an antidote. 1 Likes
NurseIndependa Specializes in Emergency Department. 113 Posts Oct 6, 2015 Thank you for this! I am a new nurse and really trying to learn my "common ER meds" like the back of my hand. I have encountered many of these. 1 Likes
wyosamRN Specializes in ED, OR, Oncology. Has 6 years experience. 108 Posts Oct 7, 2015 I would add that drugs used for intubation, including RSI, as well as drugs/drips used for maintenance should be included in drugs that you know like the back of your hand. Until you've done a bunch of them, they can be stressful situations. It helps so much to understand what the goal of each drug is, when it will take effect (and how to tell that it has), and how long it will last. Also, it is very important to know what the plan is for maintenance sedation (and paralysis if needed) ahead of time if possible- too many times the MD doesn't know his plan, so asking helps them remember to address that, preferably before hand so drips are mixed and ready to go. Otherwise, I'd say knowing everything listed pretty well is a good start. 1 Likes
KBabiesRN Has <1 years experience. 7 Posts May 2, 2019 Could you please list the specific medications used for: 1)Intubation 2) RSI 3) Drugs/Drips used for maintenance Also, could you give an example of a plan for maintenance sedation (and paralysis if needed)? Any other specific common ED medications you recommend to know that may not be on this list? Thank you! 1 Likes
Banana nut, BSN, RN, EMT-B Has 2 years experience. 316 Posts May 6, 2019 Octreoride/protonix iv for lower GI bleeds too 1 Likes
Sehnsucht Specializes in New Grad Dec 2019. 22 Posts Nov 2, 2019 Oh this is awesome. Thank you to the contributors! 1 Likes
