Pharmacology · single question
What is the maximum dose of epinephrine that can be safely administered to a patient with a cardiac problem?
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. 0.04 mg
- A. Too low — 0.02 mg is not the recognized cardiac ceiling; it would needlessly limit anesthesia.
- B. Correct. The 'cardiac dose' of epinephrine is 0.04 mg (40 µg) per appointment — about 2 cartridges of 1:100,000 — roughly one-fifth of the healthy maximum.
- C. 0.2 mg is the maximum for a HEALTHY patient (≈10 cartridges of 1:100,000), not for a cardiac patient.
- D. 0.4 mg exceeds even the healthy maximum and would be dangerous in any patient.