D. Drugs Lidocaine, atropine, naloxone, and epinephrine may be given via endotracheal tube. If greater than 4 minutes to CPR or 8 minutes to ACLS, there is a poor prognosis. Amiodarone is now approved for the treatment of life-threatening ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation unresponsive to other measures. The initial dose is 150 mg IV over 10 minutes followed by 360 mg over the next 6 hours. The most common side effects are hypotension and bradycardia.
Hypotension seems to be related to speed of infusion.
Criteria for treatment. Hypotension, dyspnea, CHF, evidence of poor CNS perfusion. Types of bradycardia. Second-degree AV block. Progressive prolongation of PR interval until there is a nonconducted P wave.