How to d/c an iv epinephrine infusion rx'd for shock?

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I have looked in 2011 Gahart IV Meds, 2013 Lippincott Drug Handbook, and 19th ed of The Merck Manual. I need to know the rate of infusion per hour for "x" hours for d/c, or if epi is d/c abruptly. I do not think epi would be d/c abruptly but cannot find enough info to support this or any nursing considerations.

Thanks,

Daniel

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

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If this is about a patient please seek the assistance of a senior staff member/supervisor/pharmacy immediately.

Most facilities have policies about eh titration of gtts in the critical care areas. You cannot just stop an Epi gtt for the patients that need them a gradual wen is the method to maintain their stability. An IV epinephrine drip is used on a critical patient with very unstable vital signs and is use when other meds have failed or the heart is very ill/damaged. Epinephrine is titrated in very small amounts to maintain a mean B/P of at least 60 mmHG.

http://www.adaweb.net/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=NEZUPFSH4H4%3D&tabid=798

Symptomatic bradycardia or heart block (not responsive to atropine or pacing): I.V. infusion: 1-10 mcg/minute; titrated to desired effect

Refractory hypotension (refractory to dopamine/dobutamine): Continuous I.V. infusion 1 mcg/minute (range: 1-10 mcg/minute); titrate dosage to desired effect; severe cardiac dysfunction may require doses >10 mcg/minute (up to 0.1 mcg/kg/minute)

Epinephrine:

Dosing:

Continuous infusion: 1 to 4 mcg/min.

Anaphylaxis (adult): 0.1 to 0.5 SC / IM (1:1000) repeat q10 to 15 minutes prn or give 0.1 to 0.25 mg IV (1:10,000) over 5-10min repeat q5 to 15 minutes as needed or start continuous infusion: 1 to 4 mcg/min.

Cardiac arrest: 0.5 to 1 mg bolus (1:10,000) q5min prn. May give 0.3 mg SC or start continuous infusion (range: 1 to 10 mcg/min).

Calculation of drip rate (ml/hr)

1 mg/250 ml: mcg/min x 15.

EPINEPHRINE* -* Intravenous (IV) Dilution

IV Critical Care Infusion Drip Chart

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Thanks, Esme12. Sorry for the late reply; school has been busy. Teacher didn't specify and I thought there might be a question about epi dosing and I was right. Forty percent of the questions they pick, for the test, is on material they don't even cover.

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