Atropine
 
General Principles: Indications Precautions  

 

 Second drug (after epinephrine or vasopressin) for asystole or bradycardic pulseless electrical activity (Class llb). Use with caution in presence of myocardial ischemia and hypoxia. Increases myocardial oxygen demand.

  
  First drug for symptomatic sinus bradycardia (Class I).

Avoid in hypothermic bradycardia.

  
   

May be beneficial in presence of AV block at the nodal level (Class Ia) or ventricular asystole.

Will not be effective for infranodal (type II) AV block and new third-degree block with wide QRS complexes. (In these patients may cause paradoxical slowing. Be prepared to pace or give catecholamines.)

  
 

Dosing for:

Cardiac Arrest

1 mglVpush.
o Repeat every 3 to 5 minutes (if asystole persists) to a maximum dose of 0.03 to 0.04 mg/kg.
Tracheal Administration
2 to 3 mg diluted in 10 mL normal saline.
Can be given via tracheal tube

 


 

 

 

  

Symptomatic Bradycardia

(Note: Not effective in third degree (Complete) heart block. )

 

 Bradycardia
0.5 to 1.0 mg IV every 3 to 5 minutes as needed, not to exceed total dose of 0.04 mg/kg.
Use shorter dosing interval (3 minutes) and higher doses (0.04 mg/kg) in severe clinical conditions.
Tracheal Administration
2 to 3 mg diluted in 10 mL normal saline.
Can be given via tracheal tube