Medications Commonly Used for Resuscitation*

AdenosineAdenosine

6 mg initially, then 12 mg × 2 if needed

0.1 mg/kg initially, then 0.2 mg/kg × 2

AmiodaroneAmiodarone

For VF/pulseless VT: 300 mg IV push over 2 minutes

If persistent VF/pulseless VT, may give additional 150 mg

For VF/pulseless VT: 5 mg/kg IV push

If persistent VF/pulseless VT, may repeat up to 3 total doses

For perfusing VT:

• Loading dose: 150 mg IV push over 10 minutes, followed by

• Infusion (drip): 1 mg/minute × 6 hours, then 0.5 mg/minute × 24 hours

For perfusing VT: 5 mg/kg over 20–60 minutes, may repeat twice to a maximum of 15 mg/kg/day

Atropine‡ Atropine‡

1 mg, repeat every 3–5 minutes to effect or total dose of 3 mg, minimum dose 0.5 mg

0.02 mg/kg, repeat once in 3–5 minutes if needed, minimum dose 0.1 mg

Calcium chlorideCalcium chloride

1 g

20 mg/kg

Calcium gluceptate§

0.66 g

N/A

Calcium gluconateCalcium gluconate

3 g

30 mg/kg

DobutamineDobutamine

2–5 mcg/kg/minute—increasing as needed to maximum 20 mcg/kg/minute

Same as adult dose

DopamineDopamine

2–5 mcg/kg/minute—increasing as needed to maximum 20 mcg/kg/minute

Same as adult dose

EpinephrineEpinephrine

Bolus: 1 mg

Infusion: 2–10 mcg/minute

Bolus: 0.01 mg/kg

Infusion: 0.1–1.0 mcg/kg/minute

Glucose (only for documented hypoglycemia)

25 g 50% D/W

0.5–1 g/kg of 10% D/W

Avoid high concentrations in infants and young children. Recommend using 10% D/W for infants and 10% or 25% for children

LidocaineLidocaine

1–1.5 mg/kg; repeat every 5–10 minutes to a maximum of 3 mg/kg

Loading dose: 1 mg/kg

Infusion: 20–50 mcg/kg/minute

Magnesium sulfate

1–2 g

25–50 mg/kg to a maximum of 2 g

NaloxoneNaloxone

2–4 mg intranasal or 0.4 mg IM

0.1 mg/kg if patients are < 20 kg or < 5 years

2 mg if patients are ≥ 20 kg or ≥ 5 years

NorepinephrineNorepinephrine

Infusion: 5–30 mcg/minute

Infusion: Starting with 0.05–0.1 mcg/kg/minute (maximum dose 2 mcg/kg/minute)

PhenylephrinePhenylephrine

Infusion: 0.1–0.5 mcg/kg/minute

Infusion: 0.1–0.5 mcg/kg/minute

ProcainamideProcainamide

20–50 mg/minute (total maximum dose of 17 mg/kg

15 mg/kg over 30–60 minutes

Sodium bicarbonateSodium bicarbonate

50 mEq

1 mEq/kg

The PALS 2020 guideline does not recommend sodium bicarbonate in pediatric patients except in those with hyperkalemia, hypocalcemia, hypermagnesemia, tricyclic antidepressant toxicity, or calcium channel blocker overdose¶The PALS 2020 guideline does not recommend sodium bicarbonate in pediatric patients except in those with hyperkalemia, hypocalcemia, hypermagnesemia, tricyclic antidepressant toxicity, or calcium channel blocker overdose¶