Emergency Drug Calculator

PALS DRUGS

Advanced Directives
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(If unknown, enter as Patient X, etc.)
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PALS MEDICATIONS
Dose Calculations Intravenous/Intraosseous route unless otherwise specified
Drug Indication Concentration Dose Volume Notes Admin Notes
Adenosine. 1st Dose
(0.1 mg/kg) 		SVT 3 mg/mL
MAX 6 mg Undiluted. Rapid IV push. Flush with NS.
Give at IV site closest to heart.
Only give IO if no IV access.
Adenosine. Repeat Dose
(0.2 mg/kg) 		SVT 3 mg/mL
MAX 12 mg Undiluted. Rapid IV push. Flush with NS.
Give at IV site closest to heart.
Only give IO if no IV access.
Amiodarone
(5 mg/kg) 		SVT
Ventricular Tachycardia (VT)
Ventricular fibrillation (Vfib)		 50 mg/mL
MAX 300 mg. May repeat up to 15 mg/kg Dilute to 1 mg/mL in D5W.
Give IV over 30-60min with perfusing rhythm. For cardiac arrest can give as IV bolus
Atropine
(0.02 mg/kg) 		Bradycardia 0.4 mg/mL
MAX 1 mg Undiluted. Over 1 min.
Caution: 2 concentrations available
Calcium Gluconate
(60 mg/kg) 		Hyperkalemia
Hypocalemia		 100 mg/mL
MAX 3000 mg Dilute to 50 mg/mL in NS.
Administer Over at least 5 min
Epinephrine IM
For Anaphylaxis
(0.01 mg/kg) 		Anaphylaxis  (IM ONLY)  1 mg/mL
MIN 0.1 mg
MAX 0.5 mg
1 mg/mL = 1:1000.		 DO NOT GIVE IV.
Epinephrine IV/IO
(0.01 mg/kg) 		Pulseless arrest 
Bradycardia 		 0.1 mg/mL
MAX 1 mg (10 mL)
May repeat q 3-5 min
0.1 mg/mL = 1:10,000		 FOR PULSELESS ARREST OR BRADYCARDIA
Note dosage strength
Undiluted. Rapid IV bolus.
Dextrose (D10W)
(500 mg/kg or 5 mL/kg) 		Hypoglycemia 100 mg/mL
500 mg/kg = 0.5 g/kg = 5 mL/kg of D10W.
Usual MAX 25 g = 250 mL. 		Undiluted. Over 2-3min.
Lidocaine
(1 mg/kg) 		Ventricular tachycardia (VT).
Ventricular fibrillation (Vfib)		 20 mg/mL
lidocaine 20 mg/mL = 2% Undiluted. Over 2 min
Magnesium Sulfate
(25 mg/kg) 		Torsades des pointes 500 mg/mL
MAX 2000 mg.
Magnesium Sulfate 500 mg/mL = 50%		 Dilute to 40 mg/mL in NS. Over 15-30min
Naloxone
(0.1 mg/kg)
Give in 1/10 increments 		Respiratory Arrest 0.4 mg/mL
Give dose slowly in 1/10 increments. Titrate to effect. MAX 2 mg Undiluted. Over 30 seconds.
Naloxone
(2 mcg/kg) (0.002 mg/kg)
Must dilute 		Respiratory Depression 40 mcg/mL
Mix 1 mL of 0.4 mg/mL (400 mcg/mL) naloxone in 9 mL NS to yield 40 mcg/mL. Then draw ordered diluted dose. Diluted. Slow IV push. May need to repeat dose q 2 min x 4 doses.
Sodium Bicarbonate
(1 mmol/kg) 		Metabolic acidosis. Hyperkalemia 1 mmol/mL
Sodium bicarbonate 1 mmol/mL = 8.4% Undiluted. Over 2 min
Sodium Bicarbonate
(1 mmol/kg) 		Metabolic acidosis. Hyperkalemia 0.5 mmol/mL
Preferred for infants.
Sodium bicarbonate 0.5 mmol/mL = 4.2%		 Dilute 8.4% 1:1 with SWI to make 4.2%. Over 2 min
Sodium
Chloride 3 %
IV (5 mL/kg) 		Elevated ICP 3 %
MAX 250 mL Over 5 min


Diluted epinephrine 10 mcg/mL
For a pre-arrest or hypotensive event, as directed by the MD		 A 10 mL syringe of diluted epinephrine is made by adding 1 mL of epinephrine 0.1 mg/mL to 9 mL of NS.
Usual dosage: 5 mcg (0.5 mL) to 20 mcg (2 mL) IV PRN, as directed by the MD to maintain blood pressure. Note that this is an unofficial PALS practice.
Revised March 2024

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