USEFUL PAEDIATRIC
DRUG DOSES
(1) Direct Current (DC) Defibrillation for cardiac arrest/pulseless states:
- for VF and pulseless VT
start at 2 Joules/kg, progressing through 3 J/kg to 4 J/kg
(unsynchronised mode)
- for SVT
0.5 – 1 J/kg (synchronised mode)
(2) Adrenalin for cardiac arrest – IV or IO* bolus:
Make up 1mg into 10ml with isotonic saline (100 microgram(µg)/ml);.
Give 10 µg/kg IV or IO* initially, up to 100 µg/kg subsequently.
Endotracheal** doses are up to 100 µg/kg.
(3) Adrenalin for cardiac arrest – IV infusion:
Make up 1mg into 1000ml isotonic saline (1 µg/ml);
Give a continuous venous infusion of approximately 0.1-1 µg/kg per min
(4) Lignocaine for VF, VT, ventricular ectopy:
Initially 1 mg/kg IV or IO or via ETT**;
Subsequent infusion (suppress ventricular ectopy) 20-50 µg/kg
(5) Atropine for cardiac arrest or bradycardia:
20 µg/kg IV or IO* or via ETT**
(6) Suxamethonium for intubation:
1-2 mg/kg; 2 mg/kg in infants
- may be given IV or infra-lingually by submucous injection
in the absence of IV access
(7) Salbutamol for nebulisation:
1 year – 1.25 mg
5-10 years – 2.5mg
(8) Other indications for adrenalin:
Severe bradycardia (with or without hypotension)
Anaphylaxis
Severe bronchospasm
 based on the Australian Resuscitation Council guidelines
* IO = intra-osseus
** The endotracheal route is an alternative for administration of adrenaline,
atropine and lignocaine, if intravenous (IV) or intra-osseous access is not
available.