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- Feed Preview Drugs – Streetwatch: Notes of a Paramedic
The Essential Eight
We have reached the Essential Eight -- eights drugs that I am not going on the road without.
Aspirin
Now Aspirin use has become so prominent that many of my patients have already taken Aspirin before I get there -- either they took it themselves, were given it by a friend or coworker or a medica...
Atropine
The best bradycardia calls are for the patient passed out in the bathroom. You find them on the floor, cold and clammy, no pressure, pulse in the 20's. We used to give a full amp of Atropine, now...
Dopamine
We don't carry med pumps so the drip is pretty much of an eyeball, and then titrate to blood pressure. When the pressure bottoms, you bump it up. You get a pressure above 90, you ease it down.
Glucagon
My secret EMS pride has always been my IV skills. I like to think of myself as a Zen master of IVs. And so I know I am hexing myself when I write this -- I know somewhere out there right now a di...
20 Drugs To Go
Now as we move up the list toward what I call The Essential Eight, the choices are going to become harder.
Metoprolol
"So, the Metoprolol finally worked," I said to the nurse. "No," she said, "We gave him Cardizem."
Toradol
When Fentanyl arrives in my kit, it will likely be ranked quite high on my list and push Toradol down even further, possibly to the point where we will have no need to carry it.
Activated Charcoal
I must confess that in my 21 years riding ambulances, 18 as a paramedic, I have never given Activated Charcoal to a patient.
Vasopressin
"In summary, the use of vasopressin alone or in combination with epinephrine as the first line vasopressors during resuscitation from cardiac arrest offers no benefit related to short- and long-t...