Common ER Medications Flashcards

Common Emergency Room Medications

• Adenosine: Antiarrhythmic drug effective for chemical cardioversion of supraventricular tachycardia.

• Amiodarone: Used to manage life-threatening acute arrhythmias.

• Acnef: IV antibiotic typically administered to patients with bacterial infections upon admission.

• Ativan/Lorazepam: Indicated for anxiety or agitation; also used to halt active epileptic seizures.

• Atropine: Primarily utilized in cardiac arrest situations to increase heart rate.

• Azithromycin/Zithromax: Common antibiotic prescribed for less serious bacterial infections.

• Bacitracin: Antibiotic ointment frequently used for wound care in the emergency room.

• Bactrim: Oral antibiotic aimed at treating less severe bacterial infections.

• Cardizem/Diltiazem: Treatment of choice for arrhythmias, especially atrial fibrillation.

• Catapres/Clonidine: Administered to address acute hypertension.

• Cefepime: Cephalosporin antibiotic effective against severe, life-threatening infections.

• Ciprofloxacin ("Cipro"): Widely used oral antibiotic for a variety of infections.

• Coumadin/Warfarin: Most prevalent blood thinner for the prevention and treatment of clots; requires regular INR monitoring.

• Decadron: Oral steroid utilized for its anti-inflammatory effects.

• Digoxin: Commonly prescribed for managing atrial fibrillation.

• Dilaudid: Highly requested narcotic pain medication, significantly more potent than morphine.

• Duoneb (Albuterol+Atrovent): Combination inhalation treatment to facilitate airway dilation.

• Dopamine: IV medication enhancing blood flow, particularly in cardiac arrest cases.

• Epinephrine: Key treatment for severe allergic reactions and intracardiac resuscitation in arrest situations.

• Etomidate: Rapid-onset sedative applied in various ER procedures, including intubation.

• Fentanyl: Strong narcotic with quick effects; can be administered via a transdermal patch for chronic pain.

• Flagyl: Oral antibiotic often used for sexually transmitted infections and various other infections.

• GI cocktail: Combination of antacid, lidocaine, and Donnatal for treating dyspepsia or GERD.

• Haldol: Antipsychotic medication frequently used in the ER for acute psychological crises.

• Heparin: Injectable anticoagulant for preventing blood clots; part of acute myocardial infarction treatment.

• Hydrocodone/Norco: Common oral narcotic prescribed for moderate to severe pain relief.

• Keflex: Oral antibiotic effective against a range of infections, especially skin and urinary tract infections.

• Labetalol: Beta blocker administered intravenously for severe hypertension.

• Lasix: Primary diuretic for managing fluid retention, commonly in congestive heart failure cases.

• Levaquin: Versatile antibiotic available in both IV and oral forms.

• Levophed/Norepinephrine: Treatment for low blood pressure during cardiac arrest.

• Lidocaine: Commonly used for local anesthesia, especially in laceration repairs.

• Lovenox: Subcutaneously administered blood thinner for treating deep vein thrombosis.

• Meclizine/Antivert: Antihistamine used to alleviate vertigo-related dizziness.

• Morphine: Popular narcotic for moderate to severe pain management.

• Narcan: Immediate opioid antagonist for reversing narcotic overdoses.

• Nitroglycerin (NTG): Treatment for chest pain and hypertension.

• Phenergan: Anti-nausea medication; considered secondary due to sedative effects.

• Prednisone: Commonly prescribed steroid for treating inflammation.

• Propofol: Sedative used for various procedures and surgeries.

• Protonix: Proton pump inhibitor widely used to manage GERD and related conditions.

• Rocephin: IV antibiotic used for life-threatening bacterial infections.

• Solu-Medrol: Injectable steroid for addressing inflammation.

• Succinylcholine: Short-acting paralytic primarily used in intubation procedures.

• Tetracaine: Local anesthetic often utilized in eye drop form.

• Tissue Plasminogen Activator (tPA): "Clot buster" medication for dissolving clots in acute stroke scenarios; requires careful scrutiny due to potency.

• Toradol/Ketorolac: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) for moderate pain, more potent than over-the-counter options.

• Vancomycin: Antibiotic targeting serious gram-positive bacterial infections unresponsive to other treatments.

• Versed: Common sedative administered preoperatively.

• Zofran/Ondansetron: Most frequently used ER medication to treat and prevent nausea.

• Zosyn: IV antibiotic for acute bacterial infections.