CRITICAL CARE INTRAVENOUS MEDICATIONS CHART

DRUG NAME ONSET CONCENTRATION UNIT OF MEASUREMENT DRUG CLASS HOW TO TITRATE
Continuous Infusion – mg/min
Non- 450mg / 250ml D5W only
Amiodarone Common dose: 1mg / min for 6 hrs, Antiarrhythmic
specific Can not mix in NS
then 0.5 mg /min infusion
IV Bolus Dose – mg/hr
Bumex 10mg / 100ml NS Dose: 0.5 – 1 mg slow IVP over 1-2 min or
2-3 min Loop Diuretic Dose ordered per MD based on UOP or PCWP
(Bumetanide) Can Mix in D5W Continuous Infusion – mg/hour
Usual Dose: 1 mg/hr or (MD preference)
Continuous Infusion – mg/hour
Cardizem 100mg / 100 ml Ca Channel Increase rate 5 mg/hr
minutes Dose: 5 – 15 mg/ hr
(Diltiazem) Can mix in NS and D5W Blocker Q 15 min to desired Heart Rate
Titrate 5 mg/hr increments to desire effect
Continuous Infusion – mg/hour
20mg / 200ml Dose: 2.5 – 15 mg / hour Start @ 5 mg/hr then  increase rate 2.5 mg Q
Cardene Ca Channel
10 min 40mg / 200ml Titrate 2.5 mg/hr increments Q 15 min 15 min. attempt to decrease to 3 mg/hr once
(Nicardipine) Blocker
Can mix in NS and D5W Rotate IV infusion site Q 12 hr if given in B/P controlled
periph. IV. If doubled need Central Line
Continuous Infusion – mcg/kg/min
Neuromuscular
Cisatracurium 200mg / 200ml NS May give IV loading dose: 0.1 mcg/kg Titrate to 2 - 4 twitches on Peripheral Nerve
2-3 min Blockade
(Nimbex) Can mix in D5W Usual Range: 1 – 10 mcg/kg/min Stimulator (TOF) or per MD orders
(Paralytic)
Titrate 2 mcg/kg/min increments
Continuous Infusion – mcg/kg/min
Corlopam 20mg/500ml Titrate 0.05 – 0.1 mcg/kg/min increments Q15
10 min Dose: Initial 0.1 mcg/kg/min Vasodilator
(Fenoldopam) Can mix in NS and D5W until target BP
Avg. rate = 0.25 – 0.5 mcg/kg/min
Loading dose = 1mcg / kg over 10 minutes Sedative Titrate 0.1mcg/kg/hr Q10min
Dexmedetomdine 200mcg / 50ml
1 min Continuous Infusion - mcg/kg/hr (Alpha2 – Adrenergic Increments to desired level of Sedation
(Precedex) Can mix in NS and D5W
Avg rate = 0.2 – 0.7 mcg/kg/hr Agonist) (Max dose = 1.5 mcg/kg/hr)
1000mg / 100 ml vial Increase 5 mcg/kg/min
Diprivan Continuous Infusion – mcg/kg/min
seconds 500mg / 50 ml vial Conscious Sedation Q 5 minutes based on sedation (BIS or
(Propofol) Dose: Usual range = 5-50 mcg/kg/min
Pre-Mixed RASS)
1-10 500mg / 250ml (Standard) Continuous Infusion – mcg/kg/min
Dobutamine Vasopressor Increase rate 1 - 4 mcg/kg/hr Q 10 minutes
min Can mix in NS and D5W Dose: 2 – 20 mcg/kg/min
400mg / 250ml (Standard) Continuous Infusion – mcg/kg/min
Dopamine 5 min Vasopressor Increase rate 1 - 4 mcg/kg/hr Q 10 minutes
Can mix in NS and D5W Dose: 2 – 20 mcg/kg/min
Continuous Infusion
5mg / 250ml (Standard) mcg/kg/minute -- OR -- mcg/min Vasopressor Increase 0.01 mcg/kg/min Q 15 minutes.
Epinephrine minutes
Can mix in NS and D5W Usual Range: 1 – 10 mcg/min Cardiac Stimulant Titrate to effect desired per MD
0.05 – 1 mcg/kg/min
Brevibloc 2-10 2500 mg / 250 ml Continuous Infusion – mcg/kg/min Antiarrhythmic / Usual Titration: 50mcg/kg/min increments
(Esmolol) min Pre-Mixed Dose: Usual Range = 50-200 mcg/kg/min Beta Blocker
Continuous Infusion – mcg/hour
1mg / 100ml NS (Standard) Narcotic
Fentanyl seconds Usual Range: 50 – 300 mcg/hr Increase rate 25 mcg/hr based on pain control
Can mix in D5W Analgesic
Titrate 25 mcg/hr increments
IV Bolus Dose – mg
Furosemide 100mg / 100 ml or 200 mg / 200 ml Dose: 20 – 40 mg slow IVP over 1-2 min or Loop Dose ordered per MD based on UOP and or
5 min
(Lasix) Can mix in NS and D5W Continuous Infusion - mg / hr Diuretic PCWP
Usual Dose: 10 - 20 mg/hr or (MD pref.)

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 CRITICAL CARE INTRAVENOUS MEDICATIONS CHART
DRUG NAME ONSET CONCENTRATION UNIT OF MEASUREMENT DRUG CLASS HOW TO TITRATE
25,000 units / 250ml Continuous Infusion – units/hour
Heparin seconds Anticoagulant Based on PTT and Per Protocol per MD orders
Can mix in NS and D5W Dose: Weight-based --OR-- PTT-based
100 units / 100ml NS only Continuous Infusion – units/hour Based on Blood Glucose
Insulin (regular) 30 min Hormone Agent
Can not mix in D5W Dose: Based upon blood glucose level Per protocol per MD order
Continuous Infusion
Levophed 4mg / 250ml (Standard) mcg/kg/minute -- OR -- mcg/min Increase rate 5 mcg /min
seconds Vasopressor
(Norepinephrine) Can mix in NS and D5W Usual Range: 0.5 – 30 mcg/min Q 3 – 5 minutes
0.01 – 3 mcg/kg/min
Continuous Infusion – mg/min
45-90 2 grams / 500ml (4mg/ml) Usual Range: 1 – 4 mg/min
Lidocaine Antiarrhythmic
seconds Can mix in NS and D5W 1mg/min = 7.5 ml/hr 3 mg/min = 22.5 ml/hr
2 mg/min = 15 ml/hr 4 mg = 30 ml/hr
Continuous Infusion – mg/hour
Midazolam 125mg / 125 ml Benzodiazepine Increase rate 1 mg/hr based on sedation (titrate
1-5 min Usual Range: 1 – 10 mg/hr
(Versed) Can mix in NS and D5W (Sedative) to lowest dose possible)
Titrate 1 mg/hr increments
B N P Acutely
Natrecor 1.5mg / 250ml = (6 mcg/ml) IV bolus: 2 mcg/kg over 60 seconds If ordered, may be increased by 0.005 mcg/kg/
15 min Decompensated
(Nesiritide) Can mix in NS and D5W Continuous Infusion: 0.01 mcg/kg/min min Q3hr (max = 0.03 mcg/kg/min)
CHF
Neosynephrine 20mg / 250ml (Standard) Continuous Infusion – mcg/min Increase rate 5 mcg/min
seconds Vasopressor
(Phenylephrine) Can mix in NS and D5W Usual Range: 100 – 180 mcg/min Q 3 – 5 min.
50mg / 250ml D5W only, or 100mg Continuous Infusion – mcg/kg/min
Nipride / 250ml D5W only Dose: 0.3 –4 mcg/kg/min
< 2 min Vasodilator Increase rate 0.5 mcg/kg/min Q 3 – 5 min.
(Nitroprusside) Titrate 0.5 mcg/kg/min increments
Can not mix in NS Maximum = 10 mcg/kg/min
Increase rate 5mcg/min
25mg / 250ml (Standard) Continuous Infusion – mcg/min
Nitroglycerin seconds Vasodilator Q 3-5 min. May increase 10mcg/min if
Can mix in NS and D5W Usual Range: 1 – 200 mcg/min
exceeds 20
Continuous Infusion – mg/kg/hr
Neuromuscular Titrate to 2 – 4 twitches on Peripheral Nerve
Pavulon 50mg / 100 ml (Standard) May give loading dose: 0.1 mg/kg slow IVP
2-3 min Blockade Stimulator
(Pancuronium) Can mix in NS and D5W Usual Range: 0.02 – 0.1 mg/kg/hr
(Paralytic) (TOF) or MD order.
Titrate: 0.02 mg/kg/hr increments
Primacor 5-15 40mg / 200ml Continuous Infusion – mcg/kg/min + Inotrope
Dose ordered per MD
(Milrinone) min Can mix in NS and D5W Usual Range: 0.375 – 0.75 mcg/kg/min and Vasodilator
Continuous Infusion – mg/min
2 grams / 250ml Usual Range: 1 – 4 mg / min
Pronestyl minutes Antiarrhythmic
Can mix in NS and D5W 1mg/min = 7.5 ml/hr 3 mg/min = 22.5 ml/hr
2 mg/min = 15 ml/hr 4 mg/min = 30 ml/hr
Continuous Infusion – units/min
Vasopressor
20 units / 100ml (Standard) Range: 0.01 – 0.1 units/min Increase rate in 0.2 – 0.5 units / hr. Q 15
Vasopressin minutes for Septic Shock
Can mix in NS and D5W Usual Dose: 0.04 units/min fixed dose OR minutes Titrate to effect.
and Tx GIB
Units / hr Usual Dose: 0.2 – 0.9 units / hr
Continuous Infusion – mcg/kg/min
Neuromuscular Titrate to 2 – 4 twitches on Peripheral Nerve
Vecuron 20mg / 100ml (Standard) May give loading dose: 100 mcg/kg IVP
2-3 min Blockade Stimulator
(Vecuronium) Can mix in NS and D5W Usual Dose: 0.6 – 1.2 mcg/kg/min
(Paralytic) (TOF) or MD orders
Titrate: 0.2 mcg/kg/min

Updated 5/09 KE/ MS /CW

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