Amiodarone vs Lidocaine drip

[Guest guest]

A question for the group... We keep running into the issue of the use of drips

after successful conversion from v-tach. I was always advised that if a certain

medication was involved in the conversion to maintain levels of the same

medication in the blood stream via a drip.

Now I am told by several sources that if Amiodarone is used successfully, use a

Lidocaine drip. However I have found drug info from " WYETH-AYERST LABORATORIES "

that comes in the package the following:

" Add 150 mg to 100mL D5W; administer over First 10 minutes (15 mg/min) or 300

mg, IV push, as recommended in VF/pulseless VT algorithm in the 2000 ACLS

guidelines followed by Slow Add 900 mg to 500 mL D5W; administer 33.3 mL/hr over

NEXT 6 hours (1 mg/min) "

Then as I understand it a maintenance infusion can be used over 18 hours.

My question to the group is this: 1. Which one is to be used for National Reg

Exams 2. Which one is used for ACLS exams?

I would appreciate any and all input. If you choose to email me directly, that

would be cool too

Thanks in advance. Larry Mc PJCEMSP

[Guest guest]

The use of the appropriate drip that was responsible for conversion is the

appropriate answer. Also, 1 mg/min is correct. We make it easy out here - why

not mix the 150 mg amp with 150 cc bag of D5W - which by the way is the

recommended fluid of mixing choice by the manufacturer of the drug - and run

THAT at 1 mg/min. Since 1 mg with that concentration is in 1 ml, the

calculation is MUCH easier in the acute setting when things are so stressed out

as in EMS sometimes. Makes it easy....

Jane Hill

[Guest guest]

Agreed, I have just been hearing the opposite info around the ACLS realm and

it was news to me. We do the same. The less confusion the better.

Larry Mc

Re: Amiodarone vs Lidocaine drip

> The use of the appropriate drip that was responsible for conversion is the

appropriate answer. Also, 1 mg/min is correct. We make it easy out here -

why not mix the 150 mg amp with 150 cc bag of D5W - which by the way is the

recommended fluid of mixing choice by the manufacturer of the drug - and run

THAT at 1 mg/min. Since 1 mg with that concentration is in 1 ml, the

calculation is MUCH easier in the acute setting when things are so stressed

out as in EMS sometimes. Makes it easy....

>

> Jane Hill

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I don't know which " ACLS realm " you are hearing something different from, but

that is the way it is taught out here.

Jane