Etomidate

See critical care quick reference for drug doses by weight.

General

  • Type:
  • Dosage Forms:
  • Common Trade Names:

Adult Dosing

RSI

  • 0.3mg/kg bolus IV
  • Standard dose = 20mg

Procedural Sedation

  • 0.1mg/kg one time dosing
  • Max: 10mg
  • Minimal respiratory depression but decrease blood pressure and heart rate (alpha2 agonism)

Pediatric Dosing

See critical care quick reference for drug doses by weight.

RSI

  • 0.3mg/kg bolus IV
  • Max: 20mg

Procedural Sedation

  • 0.1mg/kg one time dosing
  • Max: 10mg
  • Minimal respiratory depression but decrease blood pressure and heart rate (alpha2 agonism)

Special Populations

  • Pregnancy Rating:
  • Lactation:
  • Renal Dosing
    • Adult
    • Pediatric
  • Hepatic Dosing
    • Adult
    • Pediatric

Contraindications

  • Allergy to class/drug

Adverse Reactions

  • Myoclonus
  • Nausea/Vomiting
  • Pain at injection site
  • apnea

Controversy

"The available evidence suggests that etomidate suppresses adrenal function transiently without demonstrating a significant effect on mortality. However, no studies to date have been powered to detect a difference in hospital, ventilator, or ICU length of stay or in mortality."[1]

Pharmacology

  • Half-life: 75 minutes
  • Metabolism: Liver
  • Excretion: Urine
  • Mechanism of Action: GABA agonist

See Also

References

  1. *Hohl CM, Kelly-Smith CH,Yeung TC, Sweet DD, Doyle-Waters MM, Schulzer M. The effect of a bolus dose of Etomidate on cortisol levels, mortality, and health services utilization: a systematic review. Ann Emerg Med. 2010;56(2):105-113.