📚 Emergency & acute drugs organised by system — grouped into practical UK-style headings and shown in 3-column tables. 🇬🇧 UK abbreviations used: od = once daily, bd = twice daily, tds = three times daily, qds = four times daily, prn = as required. ⚠️ Doses remain protocol- and indication-dependent; always check local policy / BNF / specialist guidance before prescribing.

🚨 Emergency Drug Crib Sheet — ultra-quick adult reference. 🇬🇧 Doses shown in UK style. Always check BNF, local policy, renal function, and specialist pathways before prescribing.

🫀 Cardiology

Drug	Main use	Adult dose	Key pearl / caution
Adenosine	Regular narrow-complex SVT	6 mg rapid IV → 12 mg → 12 mg	❌ Avoid in irregular wide-complex tachycardia; flush immediately
Adrenaline	Anaphylaxis / cardiac arrest	Anaphylaxis: 500 microg IM Arrest: 1 mg IV	⚠️ Do not confuse 1:1,000 IM with 1:10,000 IV
Amiodarone	VT / VF	300 mg IV in arrest; 150 mg over 10 min for stable VT	📈 Monitor QT, BP, bradycardia
Atropine	Symptomatic bradycardia	500 microg IV every 3–5 min (max 3 mg)	💡 May not work in high-grade block — prepare pacing
GTN	ACS / pulmonary oedema	5–200 microg/min IV infusion	❌ Avoid in RV infarct, hypotension, recent PDE5 inhibitor use
Labetalol	Hypertensive emergency	20–80 mg IV bolus every 10 min prn	⚠️ Caution in asthma, bradycardia, HF

🧠 Neurology

Drug	Main use	Adult dose	Key pearl / caution
Lorazepam	Status epilepticus	2-4 mg IV, may repeat once	🫁 Be airway-ready; check glucose early
Levetiracetam	Second-line status / seizures	Usually 1–3 g IV load	⚠️ Dose-adjust in renal impairment
Phenytoin	Second-line status epilepticus	15–20 mg/kg IV at ≤50 mg/min	📉 ECG/BP monitoring needed
Magnesium sulfate	Torsades / eclampsia / severe asthma	2 g IV over 10–15 min	⚠️ Caution in renal failure; watch reflexes/RR

🍬 Endocrine / Electrolytes

Drug	Main use	Adult dose	Key pearl / caution
Calcium gluconate 10%	Hyperkalaemia with ECG changes	10 mL IV over 2–5 min	💡 Protects myocardium only — does not lower K⁺
Insulin + glucose	Hyperkalaemia	Usually 10 units soluble insulin IV + glucose per protocol	⚠️ Monitor glucose closely
Hydrocortisone	Adrenal crisis	100 mg IV then 50 mg IV qds	💧 Give fluids and treat precipitant too

💊 Toxicology / Antidotes

Drug	Main use	Adult dose	Key pearl / caution
Acetylcysteine	Paracetamol overdose	150 mg/kg → 50 mg/kg → 100 mg/kg IV	📊 Recheck ALT/INR/paracetamol at end
Activated charcoal	Selected recent overdose	50 g PO once	❌ Avoid if aspiration risk / corrosives / iron / lithium
Naloxone	Opioid toxicity	0.04–0.4 mg IV titrated	🎯 Reverse breathing, not full consciousness
Flumazenil	Iatrogenic benzo oversedation	0.2 mg IV increments up to 1 mg	🚫 Avoid in mixed overdose / seizure risk / chronic benzo use

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Emergency Drugs Collection

🫀 Cardiology

🧠 Neurology

🍬 Endocrine / Electrolytes

💊 Toxicology / Antidotes

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