Adenosine
Onset/ Peak effect: Seconds
Duration: 12 seconds
Amiodarone (Cordarone)
Onset: Within 5 - 15 minutes
Peak effect: Variable
Duration: Variable
Aspirin (ASA)
Onset: 30 - 45 minutes
Peak effect: Variable
Duration: Variable
Atropine sulfate
Onset: Immediate
Peak effect: Rapid to 1 - 2 minutes
Duration: 2 - 6 hours
Calcium chloride/Calcium Gluconate
Onset: 5 - 15 minutes
Peak effect: 3 - 5 minutes
Duration: 15 - 30 minutes but may persist for 4 hours (dose dependent).
Diltiazem (Cardizem)
Onset: 2 - 5 minutes
Peak effect: Variable
Duration: 1 - 3 hours
Dopamine (Intropin)
Onset: 1 - 4 minutes
Peak effect: 5 - 10 minutes
Duration: Effects cease almost immediately on discontinuation.
Epinephrine
Onset: Immediate
Peak effect: Minutes
Duration: Several minutes
Fentanyl citrate (Sublimaze)
Onset: Nearly Immediate
Peak effect: 5 - 15 minutes
Duration: 30 - 60 minutes
*IV specific duration of action of doses <100 mcg
** Note respiratory depression & maximal analgesic effects may not be noted for 2 - 5 minutes.
Furosemide (Lasix)
Onset: 5 minutes
Peak effect: 20 - 60 minutes
Duration: 4 - 6 hours
Lidocaine (Xylocaine)
Onset: 1 - 5 minutes
Peak effect: 5- 10 minutes
Duration: Variable ( 15 minutes - 2 hours)
Magnesium sulfate
Onset: Immediate
Peak effect: variable
Duration: 3 - 4 hours
Metoprolol (Lopressor/Toprol XL)
Onset: Immediate
Peak Effect: 20 minutes
Duration: 5 - 8 hours
*IV specific duration
Morphine sulfate
Onset: Immediate
Peak Effect: 20 minutes
Duration: 2 - 7 hours
Nitroglycerin (Nitrolingual/NitroQuick/Nitro-Dur)
Onset: 1 - 3 minutes
Peak Effect: 5 - 10 minutes
Duration: 20 - 30 minutes - OR - if IV 1 - 10 minutes after discontinuation of infusion.
Norepinephrine
Onset: 1 - 3 minutes
Peak Effect: Variable
Duration: 5 - 10 minutes. Effects last only 1 minute after infusion discontinuation
Oxygen
Onset: Immediate
Peak Effect: N/A
Duration: <2 minutes
Sodium Bicarbonate
Onset: 2-10 minutes
Peak Effect: 15 - 20 minutes
Duration: 30 - 60 minutes