50 Emergency Drugs: Uses, Actions & Life-Saving Tips for Medical Students



50 Emergency Drugs 

In emergency medicine, certain drugs are life-saving and must be given quickly and correctly.
Every healthcare worker — especially in the ER, ICU, and ambulance services — should know these medicines, their uses, and precautions.

This article lists 50 important emergency drugs, their uses, and simple explanations.

1. Adrenaline (Epinephrine)

  • Use: Cardiac arrest, anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction), severe asthma.

  • Explanation: Stimulates heart activity, increases blood pressure, relaxes airway muscles.

2. Atropine

  • Use: Bradycardia (slow heart rate), organophosphate poisoning.

  • Explanation: Blocks parasympathetic activity, increases heart rate.

3. Amiodarone

  • Use: Life-threatening arrhythmias like ventricular fibrillation.

  • Explanation: Controls irregular heart rhythms.

4. Dopamine

  • Use: Shock, heart failure, low blood pressure.

  • Explanation: Improves heart pumping and blood flow to organs.

5. Dobutamine

  • Use: Acute heart failure, cardiogenic shock.

  • Explanation: Increases heart contractility without much change in heart rate.

6. Lidocaine

  • Use: Ventricular arrhythmias, local anesthesia.

  • Explanation: Numbs nerves and controls abnormal heart rhythms.

7. Adenosine

  • Use: Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT).

  • Explanation: Slows electrical conduction in the heart.

8. Nitroglycerin

  • Use: Angina, acute heart failure.

  • Explanation: Dilates blood vessels, reduces heart workload.

9. Furosemide

  • Use: Acute pulmonary edema, severe hypertension.

  • Explanation: A diuretic that removes excess fluid.

10. Morphine

  • Use: Severe pain, pulmonary edema, heart attack pain relief.

  • Explanation: Relieves pain, reduces anxiety, lowers heart oxygen demand.

11. Naloxone

  • Use: Opioid overdose.

  • Explanation: Reverses the effects of morphine, heroin, or other opioids.

12. Diazepam

  • Use: Status epilepticus, anxiety, muscle spasms.

  • Explanation: Calms brain activity and relaxes muscles.

13. Midazolam

  • Use: Seizures, sedation before procedures.

  • Explanation: Short-acting sedative and anticonvulsant.

14. Phenytoin

  • Use: Seizures (especially status epilepticus).

  • Explanation: Controls abnormal brain electrical activity.

15. Mannitol

  • Use: Raised intracranial pressure, acute glaucoma.

  • Explanation: Osmotic diuretic that draws water out from the brain/eyes.

16. Sodium Bicarbonate

  • Use: Severe acidosis, certain drug overdoses.

  • Explanation: Neutralizes excess acid in the blood.

17. Calcium Gluconate

  • Use: Hypocalcemia, hyperkalemia, calcium channel blocker overdose.

  • Explanation: Restores calcium balance, protects the heart.

18. Potassium Chloride

  • Use: Hypokalemia (low potassium).

  • Explanation: Maintains muscle and heart function.

19. Magnesium Sulfate

  • Use: Eclampsia, severe asthma, torsades de pointes arrhythmia.

  • Explanation: Relaxes muscles, stabilizes heart rhythm.

20. Hydrocortisone

  • Use: Severe asthma, allergic reactions, adrenal crisis.

  • Explanation: Reduces inflammation and immune reactions.

21. Methylprednisolone

  • Use: Spinal cord injury, severe inflammation, asthma.

  • Explanation: Potent steroid to control swelling.

22. Salbutamol (Albuterol)

  • Use: Acute asthma, bronchospasm.

  • Explanation: Relaxes airway muscles for easier breathing.

23. Ipratropium Bromide

  • Use: Acute asthma/COPD.

  • Explanation: Bronchodilator that works differently from salbutamol.

24. Ketamine

  • Use: Anesthesia, sedation, severe pain.

  • Explanation: Dissociative anesthetic that maintains breathing.

25. Propofol

  • Use: Induction of anesthesia, sedation.

  • Explanation: Short-acting sedative-hypnotic.

26. Etomidate

  • Use: Induction of anesthesia in unstable patients.

  • Explanation: Minimal effect on blood pressure.

27. Succinylcholine

  • Use: Rapid sequence intubation.

  • Explanation: Short-acting muscle relaxant.

28. Rocuronium

  • Use: Intubation, mechanical ventilation.

  • Explanation: Non-depolarizing muscle relaxant.

29. Tranexamic Acid

  • Use: Severe bleeding, trauma, postpartum hemorrhage.

  • Explanation: Prevents blood clots from breaking down.

30. Oxytocin

  • Use: Postpartum hemorrhage, labor induction.

  • Explanation: Contracts uterus to stop bleeding.

31. Misoprostol

  • Use: Postpartum hemorrhage, incomplete abortion.

  • Explanation: Causes uterine contraction.

32. Methylergometrine

  • Use: Postpartum hemorrhage.

  • Explanation: Strong uterine contraction.

33. Glucose (Dextrose 50%)

  • Use: Severe hypoglycemia.

  • Explanation: Restores blood sugar quickly.

34. Glucagon

  • Use: Hypoglycemia when IV access is not possible.

  • Explanation: Stimulates glucose release from the liver.

35. Insulin (Regular)

  • Use: Diabetic ketoacidosis, hyperkalemia.

  • Explanation: Lowers blood sugar, shifts potassium into cells.

36. Activated Charcoal

  • Use: Certain poisonings.

  • Explanation: Absorbs toxins in the gut.

37. Pralidoxime (2-PAM)

  • Use: Organophosphate poisoning.

  • Explanation: Reactivates enzymes blocked by pesticides.

38. Nalmefene

  • Use: Opioid overdose (alternative to naloxone).

  • Explanation: Long-acting opioid reversal.

39. Dantrolene

  • Use: Malignant hyperthermia, neuroleptic malignant syndrome.

  • Explanation: Relaxes muscles, reduces dangerous heat.

40. Chlorpheniramine

  • Use: Allergic reactions.

  • Explanation: Antihistamine to reduce swelling and itching.

41. Diphenhydramine

  • Use: Allergies, anaphylaxis (supportive).

  • Explanation: Blocks histamine action.

42. Ranitidine / Famotidine

  • Use: Allergic reactions, stress ulcer prevention.

  • Explanation: Reduces stomach acid.

43. Metoclopramide

  • Use: Nausea, vomiting.

  • Explanation: Speeds stomach emptying, blocks vomiting signals.

44. Ondansetron

  • Use: Severe nausea and vomiting.

  • Explanation: Blocks serotonin in the vomiting center.

45. Aspirin

  • Use: Heart attack, chest pain.

  • Explanation: Prevents blood clot growth.

46. Clopidogrel

  • Use: Heart attack, stroke prevention.

  • Explanation: Stops platelets from clumping.

47. Heparin

  • Use: Deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, heart attack.

  • Explanation: Prevents new clots.

48. Warfarin

  • Use: Long-term prevention of clots.

  • Explanation: Vitamin K antagonist anticoagulant.

49. Streptokinase / Alteplase (tPA)

  • Use: Acute heart attack, stroke.

  • Explanation: Dissolves clots blocking blood flow.

50. Norepinephrine

  • Use: Septic shock, severe low blood pressure.

  • Explanation: Strong vasoconstrictor that raises BP.

Conclusion

Knowing these 50 emergency drugs is essential for medical and nursing students.
In emergencies, correct drug + correct dose + correct timing can save lives.

Tip: Always double-check the dose, route, and patient allergies before administration


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