Pharmacology explained Kelly’s way
Airway Meds: The Door & Road Crew
Albuterol — Kicks the door open. (Beta-2 agonist, opens airway smooth muscle)
Atrovent — Keeps the door open. (Anticholinergic, prevents constriction)
Magnesium Sulfate — Smoothes the road you walk through. (Calms and relaxes smooth
muscle)
Cardiac Meds: The Rhythm Managers
Epinephrine — The Defibrillator in a Syringe. Jumpstarts the power grid (alpha/beta
agonist).
Amiodarone — The Bouncer at the Club. Controls chaos slows conduction through
multiple channels.
Lidocaine — The Electrician. Fixes faulty wiring by blocking sodium channels.
Adenosine — The Reset Button. Temporarily stops AV conduction to restore rhythm.
Chemical Support Team
Calcium Chloride — The Reinforcer. Strengthens contractions, stabilizes thresholds.
Sodium Bicarbonate — The Cleanup Crew. Neutralizes acid, shifts potassium back into
cells.
Magnesium Sulfate — The Smoother. Stabilizes membranes, prevents arrhythmias.
Pressors: The Traffic Controllers
Dopamine — The Dispatcher. Routes blood flow where it's needed (dose-dependent).
Norepinephrine (Levophed) — The Traffic Cop. Keeps pressure steady and perfusion
adequate.
Vasopressin — The Water Main. Tightens the plumbing when other agents fail.
Airway Meds: The Door & Road Crew
Albuterol — Kicks the door open. (Beta-2 agonist, opens airway smooth muscle)
Atrovent — Keeps the door open. (Anticholinergic, prevents constriction)
Magnesium Sulfate — Smoothes the road you walk through. (Calms and relaxes smooth
muscle)
Cardiac Meds: The Rhythm Managers
Epinephrine — The Defibrillator in a Syringe. Jumpstarts the power grid (alpha/beta
agonist).
Amiodarone — The Bouncer at the Club. Controls chaos slows conduction through
multiple channels.
Lidocaine — The Electrician. Fixes faulty wiring by blocking sodium channels.
Adenosine — The Reset Button. Temporarily stops AV conduction to restore rhythm.
Chemical Support Team
Calcium Chloride — The Reinforcer. Strengthens contractions, stabilizes thresholds.
Sodium Bicarbonate — The Cleanup Crew. Neutralizes acid, shifts potassium back into
cells.
Magnesium Sulfate — The Smoother. Stabilizes membranes, prevents arrhythmias.
Pressors: The Traffic Controllers
Dopamine — The Dispatcher. Routes blood flow where it's needed (dose-dependent).
Norepinephrine (Levophed) — The Traffic Cop. Keeps pressure steady and perfusion
adequate.
Vasopressin — The Water Main. Tightens the plumbing when other agents fail.
