We have reached the Essential Eight — eights drugs that I am not going on the road without.
I am in no way advocating that my 33 drugs be cut down to 8. I could cut my list down to 24 without much concern, but after that my effectiveness starts to diminish, more so with each drug as we move up the ladder. Some drugs such as Phenergan or Lidocaine could be taken out rather easily earlier on due to the ability of other drugs (Zofran and Amiodarone) to cover some of the indications. Another drug such as Aspirin (a very important drug) could be taken out because it is readily available in homes, businesses, doctor’s offices, and on entry to the ED. Still I wouldn’t want to be without it.
I suppose I could have had an Essential Ten or an Essential Sixteen, or even more daring, an Essential Six, but in the end, I came down with an Essential Eight that I could see absolutely no way around not carrying.
So here are the Essential Eight in alphabetical order
Ativan
Dextrose (D50)
DuoNeb(Albuterol/Atrovent)
Epinephrine
Morphine
Nitroglycerine
Normal Saline
Oxygen
In the coming days I will discusss these drugs, and, as an exercise only, I will force myself to remove one drug from this essential drug list every day until I am down to my most essential drug.
Stay tuned.
***
And here are 9-33.
9. Narcan
10. Aspirin
11. Amiodarone
12. Atropine
13. Dopamine
14. Zofran
15. Cardizem
16. Adenosine
17. Glucagon
18. Magnesium
19. Benadryl
20. Versed
21. Solu-Medrol
22. Sodium Bicarbonate
23. Calcium
24. Haldol
25. Metoprolol
26. Lidocaine
27. Toradol
28. Activated Charcoal
29. Tylenol
30. Tetracaine
31. Phenergan
32. Vasopressin
33. Lasix
