Didn't realize I was going to have to go in such detail, but I will.... Yes, I know that epi is given as a vasopressor drip, but did you not just answer your own question? ITS A DRIP, not a bolus like you would be getting in an accidental IV administration. Also, when giving Epi to an anaphylactic shock patient you're giving them Epi 1:10,000 IV or an Epi drip, where as when you're giving it IM you're giving Epi 1:1,000. So yeah, big difference.... In simple anaphylaxis you give Epi 1:1,000 SQ/IM, but in anaphylactic shock you always swap over to a higher concentration like a drip or 1:10,000 so you don't give your patient an MI and kill them. There's a reason you switch. If a person accidentally gets Epi 1:1,000 IV, they're getting .3-.5mg of high concentration Epi rapidly where as in a drip (like you tried to point out) they're getting 4mcg/min of slowly infused, highly concentrated Epi. THAT is the big difference. Figured you would know this since you're trying to call me out like I'm wrong or don't know what I'm talking about. :lightbulb:
I'm a flight medic, so yeah I kinda work in an acute setting.
I use to work on helicopters and start Epi drips, vasopressin drips, Levophed drips, dopamine drips, and dobutamine drips pretty often so I know a little about the drugs and their actions. Now I work on fixed winged aircrafts which means that I do long term critical care transports, so I am maintaining these drips. We are a mobile ICU and transport cardiac patients daily. I also use to work in the ER at one of the Lvl 1 trauma centers here in Atlanta so again, I have seen my fair share of critically ill patients. I've been a paramedic for almost 12 years so I'm not some volunteer fire fighter that never sees any action lol.
When I made my post I didn't realize I needed to be so detailed. I thought other medical care providers would get what I was trying to say with oh me actually having to say it.