Question

Identify the correct dosing regimen of atropine to treat symptomatic bradycardia:

A) Atropine 0.5 mg IV every 2 minutes to a maximum of 2 mg
B) Atropine 1 mg IV every 3-5 minutes to a maximum of 3 mg
C) Atropine 1 mg every 5 minutes to a maximum of 3 mg
D) Atropine 0.5 mg IV every 3-5 minutes to a maximum of 3 mg

Answer 1

The correct atropine dosing regimen for treating symptomatic bradycardia is 0.5 mg intravenously every 3-5 minutes until symptoms improve, with a maximum dose of 3 mg.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct dosing regimen of atropine to treat symptomatic bradycardia is D) Atropine 0.5 mg IV every 3-5 minutes to a maximum of 3 mg. Atropine is an anticholinergic drug that blocks muscarinic acetylcholine receptors, countering the effects of bradycardia, which is a slower than normal heart rate. The dosing protocol is designed to allow for repeated administration to achieve the therapeutic effect without exceeding the recommended maximum dose, which could result in adverse effects.