High Alert Medications

High alert medications are those that have a high risk of causing injury or death when improperly handled or administered.

Exercise extreme caution when administering these medications.

-Adrenergic agonists (epinephrine, isoproterenol, norepinephrine)
-Cardioplegic solutions
-Chemotherapeutic agents
-Chloral hydrate (in pediatric patients)
-Colchicine injection
-High concentration dextrose (greater than 10% dextrose)
-Hypoglycemic agents (oral)
-Hypertonic sodium chloride injection (>0.9% concentration)
-Insulin
-IV adrenergic antagonists (propranolol, esmolol, metoprolol)
-IV calcium; IV magnesium sulfate
-IV digoxin
-IV potassium (phosphate and chloride)
-Lidocaine.benzocaine; other topical anesthetics
-Midazolam
-Neuromuscular blocking agents
-Opiates (opioids)
-Thrombolytics, heparin, warfarin



Source: MedSurg Notes by Myers and Hopkins