Question

A supervising physician tasks you with preparing a 0.3 mg dose of epinephrine for a 32-year old male patient experiencing symptoms of anaphylaxis moments after receiving an intradermal allergy injection. Epinephrine is available as a 1:1000 solution in a 30 mL vial containing 1 mg/mL. Calculate the correct dose to be administered to your patient. Should medical assistants be aware of legal implications of prescribing Percocet?

Answer 1

To treat a patient experiencing anaphylaxis, administer 0.3 mL of a 1 mg/mL epinephrine solution for the required 0.3 mg dose. Medical assistants must understand legal implications related to the prescribing and administering of medications like Percocet, although they do not prescribe themselves.

Step-by-step explanation:

To calculate the correct dose of epinephrine to be administered to the patient, start by identifying the concentration of the drug available, which in this case is 1 mg/mL in a 1:1000 solution. Since the required dose is 0.3 mg, you would need to administer 0.3 mL of this solution (because 1 mg is equivalent to 1 mL in this solution).

Medical assistants should be highly aware of the legal implications associated with the prescribing of controlled substances such as Percocet. While medical assistants do not prescribe medications, understanding the legal parameters within their scope of practice is essential, particularly regarding medication administration and prescription under the supervision of a physician.

Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening condition that requires immediate treatment with epinephrine. Patients with known severe allergies should carry an epinephrine auto-injector like the EpiPen® for self-administration if an anaphylactic response occurs. This intervention is critical for raising blood pressure, relaxing bronchial muscles, and enabling a patient to seek emergent medical care.