Common drugs given in the er..

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Specializes in ER.

hI i WAS WONDERING WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON DRUGS GIVEN IN THE ER? IM IN NURSING SCHOOL AND WAS THINKIN ON DOING ER AND JUS T WANT TO KNOW THE ALL.. THANKS..

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Specializes in Pulmonary, MICU.

I'd say Normal Saline would be the most common. Just a guess.

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Specializes in Emergency Room.

there are alot of drugs . but the most common would be narcotic pain relief meds (morphine, dialudid) anitemetics such as compazine, zofran and then cardiac drugs that used in arrests such as epi, atropine, lidocaine. the lists goes on and on.

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Specializes in ED, ICU, PACU.

Don't forget Oxygen is considered a drug; and, would probably be the most common.

It might help to break it down into diagnostic categories. For example: CHF would get lasix, oxygen... Pneumonia patient antibiotics and oxygen...MI, MONA...GI, oral contrast media, antiemetic...

Then, each ED has protocols and favorite drugs of choice.

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Symptom relief medications such as paracetamol and ibuprofen.

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rofl...in my neck of the woods it'd def be the NARCOTIC pain pills. Learn em one, learn em all

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Specializes in ER/Trauma.

Geez! There's a long list! LOL

IMHO (in no particular order unless mentioned)?

* Pain medication (narcotic or otherwise - but I will say, I don't nearly give as much Toradol as I did when I worked the floor).

* Anti emetics (Zofran, Reglan, Compazine and Phenergan - in that order. I've never given Tigan in the ED).

* Fluids (Say helllllloooo to Normal Saline! :chuckle)

* Antibiotics (the most common ones I give - in no particular order - are: Rocephin, Zithromax, Ancef, Vancomycin, Zosyn, Levaquin, Clindamycin, Ciprofloxacin).

* Coag drugs (Aspirin, Heparin, Integrilin/tPA/TNKase, Coumadin. Rarely Lovenox).

* High-Blood pressure drugs (Anything from Labetolol to Lopressor. Even something as exotic as a Nitroprusside drip)

* Low-Blood pressure drugs (Norepinephrine/Levophed, Dopamine, phenylephrine/Neo-synephrine being the most common)

* Nitroglycerine (sublingual, Topical and Intra-venous)

* "Code drugs" (a vast list, but the most common ones are: Epinepherine, Atropine, Bi-carb, Amiodarone, Calcium, Magnesium, Lidocaine).

* "Respiratory drugs" (Albuterol, Atrovent, racemic epinepherine, prednisone)

* Others:

- Adenosine

- Solu-Medrol/Solu-Cortef

- Benadryl

- Pepcid

- Nexium

- Blood

- Oxygen

This is just from the top of my head.

It's a very partial list...

cheers,

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Specializes in ER.

thank you all!!

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Specializes in Psych, ER, OB, M/S, teaching, FNP.

Don't forget the "drugs" for the most common reason people present with abdominal pain....ENEMA, they are usually FOS. We use the Mayo enema.

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Specializes in Emergency Dept, M/S.

Roy's list nails it all!

It depends on the docs that are on also. Some are very partial to Toradol, so I may give a ton of that IV and IM some days. Others always go straight to the "big guns" (ie. Dilaudid) and those days I feel like that is all I'm giving. Some docs prefer IV Phenergan and others are really frightened of it, so only want Zofran or Reglan. I've only been in the current ED I'm in for 6 months, but can already tell you when certain docs are on what they will prescribe.

And yeah, IV NS is a biggie.

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Specializes in ER.

Lasix is another biggie I didn't see mentioned.

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Specializes in ER/Trauma.
Lasix is another biggie I didn't see mentioned.
:smackingf Oh yeah! How did I forget that! :lol2:

Oh! Oh! And also:

* Immune-related meds/shots (Rho-gam, Tetorifice etc.)

* Psych meds (Zyprexa, Haldol, Ativan , Cogentin being the more common ones)

* D-50 and Insulin drips.

* Banana bags (depends on how many intoxicated patients you see on a regular basis).

cheers,

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