BH ICU Manual
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Common ICU Drugs

This is not an exhaustive list.  Drugs not mentioned in this list can be prescribed as per the Australian Medicine Handbook or Australian Injectable Drugs Handbook (available on the Clinicians Health Channel, or via intranet).  

Drugs A to Z 

PROMPT documents in blue - can access offsite via the link under CLINICAL.
Adrenaline
Alteplase
Aperients - do not use stimulant aperients in patients with a new anastomosis, ie. senna-containing preparations, if required, discuss with the Intensivist on duty to consider an osmotic aperient eg. lactulose.
Calcium gluconate - this is the preferred agent if there is no central access due to the highly irritating nature of calcium chloride.
​Digoxin - digoxin is usually a 3rd line agent following amiodarone and metoprolol in the ICU setting, unless the patient is usually on digoxin and is sub-therapeutic.
Digoxin immune Fab​
Erythromycin - for gastroparesis
Haloperidol - see Assessment of Pain, Delirium & Sedation of Intubated Patients in Intensive Care.  Non-pharmacological measures are preferred to pharmacological where possible.  Initiate treatment cautiously in critically ill patients.
Hydralazine 
​Insulins - choice of insulin is based on the patient's usual regime, or clinicians preference, and availability.  Re-initiating insulin dosing should take into consideration how much patient is being fed.  It is typically prescribed as approximately half of the patient's usual dose unless he/she is tolerating a full dietary intake. 
Labetalol
Lignocaine IV
Magnesium
Mannitol

Metoclopramide - for gastroparesis
Midazolam
Nicotine replacement therapy

​Pantoprazole -  Enteral formulations should be used in preference to parenteral if there are no contra-indications. Pantoprazole cannot be crushed unlike omeprazole which should be used if delivery via a feeding tube is required. Where available, the patient's usual PPI should be prescribed as first line.
Paracetamol - where possible, use the enteral preparation.
Phosphate
Potassium chloride
Ranitidine - either ranitidine or pantoprazole can be used for stress ulcer prophylaxis.  See 'Stress ulcer prophylaxis' in FASTHUGS IN BED PLEASE
​Thiamine - see Nutrition in ICU
​Tenecteplase


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