Podcast 744: Glucagon for Beta Blocker Toxicity

Educational Pearls:

• Glucagon can be used to treat hypoglycemia and esophageal foreign body, but it can also be used in beta-blocker toxicity to bypass cardiac beta-blockade
• The superior option for treating bradycardia due to beta-blocker toxicity is glucagon
• Glucagon has decreased efficacy in patients with heart failure, so increased doses up to 10 mg might be required in the event of beta-blocker toxicity

References

Khalid MM, Galuska MA, Hamilton RJ. Beta-Blocker Toxicity. [Updated 2021 Jul 26]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2021 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK448097/

Rotella JA, Greene SL, Koutsogiannis Z, et al. Treatment for beta-blocker poisoning: a systematic review. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2020;58(10):943-983. doi:10.1080/15563650.2020.1752918

Summarized by John Spartz, MS4 | Edited by Erik Verzemnieks, MD

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