For an adult with beta blocker poisoning (base hospital order only), what is the glucagon dose and route?

• A. 0.03 mg/kg IV/IO
• B. 0.03 mg/kg IM/IN
• C. 1 mg IV/IO
• D. 1 mg IM/SC/IN

Answer: (C)

Glucagon helps in beta-blocker overdose by activating receptors that raise intracellular cAMP, bypassing blocked beta receptors to improve heart rate and contractility. For an adult under this base hospital order, the recommended approach is a single 1 mg dose given IV or IO. This fixed bolus delivers rapid, reliable effect when the patient may be unstable, and IV/IO ensures quick onset compared with IM or IN routes, which can have slower, less predictable absorption in critical situations. After the bolus, the protocol may call for further management or infusion if indicated. Weight-based dosing or alternative routes aren’t used in this order, which is why the fixed 1 mg IV/IO dose is the correct choice.