Amiodarone drip and IV Metoprolol

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Are these safe to give together? If HR has been sustaining in 140s all day, stable BP and doctor orders IV Metoprolol to be given while on the Amiodarone gtt, is it safe or could it send them into cardiac arrest?

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

Yeah It's fine.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Emergency, CEN.

In a separate IV.

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Amio is for the arrhythmia, and if the patients heart rate is too high still while trying to convert the rhythm, iv lopressor will take the rate down. They can be used at the same time, two different therapeutic aims, two different drug classes.

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It's ok. As mentioned above, they are 2 different drug classes working in different ways. If the heart rate is in the 140's, think of how long the patient can sustain a heart rate that long.....they can for a while but its not ideal.

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As long as their pressure is stable it should be fine.

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If pt. has hx of heart block it is usually not recommend...need to monitor cardiac rhythm and VS frequently especially if pt. not on a ICU unit

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We have used them concurrently, however, the metoprolol must always be given very slowly and controlled. close observation of BP and HR are also essential.

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Specializes in Thoracic Cardiovasc ICU Med-Surg.

Agree w poster above who said yeah its fine. Also, if HR is 140 I would not be worrying about heart blocks, I'd be worried about filling the heart but thats just me.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Is the amio for afib with rvr or is it svt? If you convert with amio for sustained afib rvr in the 140s you should probably ask for pharmaceutical anticoags to give concurrently as the pt could throw a clot.

If svt, I've seen more cardizem gtts and treatment of underlying causes than I have amio drips.

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I am a med-surg nurse (6 pts). I was surprised, but we give iv push metoprolol. Do you think this is safe? I raised the question and expressed my concerns: Managers and charges nurses etc all say it is ok. I worry about it dropping the bp too low and I monitor the bp closely. (or as closely as I can w. this pt load!)

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

IV Metop usually doesn't have that profound of an effect on BP. Especially in someone with a HR in the 140's all day.

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