Amiodarone in low heart rate

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

Patient with a history of CVA, AFib, HTN - bp has been on the lower end (say 105/54), heart rate 56-61, sinus brady with PACs on tele. Patient is responsive to voice but somewhat lethargic, due for PO daily amiodarone dose. Hold? Or give?

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I think hold. But first, I would verify BP/HR, etc; I would look at the MAR and see what the trends are, then if it is out of the norm, I would ask charge or call physician.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

I guess I'm not clear on why you would hold it. Unless you have an issue with the patient's current HR and BP, there's no reason to hold it. If the patient's already been on amiodarone long enough to reach steady-state, then the vitals you're seeing are with amiodarone at work, giving more shouldn't change that.

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Specializes in ED.

Agree no reason to hold, some hosp have standard orders ie hold for SBP less than or HR less than. Our SBP less than 90 HR less than 50.

Muro that is a great avatar. I wish I could get away with it on my name badge

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

I wasn't sure whether to hold because it is a drug I don't have a lot of experience with and in nursing school it was drilled into our heads to never give a med like amiodarone with a heartbeat less than 60, which the majority of the time this individual's was. Thanks for the feedback.

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