Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) Practice Exam

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What is the initial dose of atropine for a patient with sinus bradycardia and hypotension?

1.0 mg
0.5 mg
2.0 mg
0.25 mg

The correct answer is: 0.5 mg

The initial dose of atropine for a patient experiencing symptomatic bradycardia, which can include sinus bradycardia accompanied by hypotension, is 0.5 mg. This dosage aligns with current advanced cardiovascular life support guidelines intended to stabilize the patient's heart rate and improve hemodynamics. Atropine functions by blocking vagal effects on the heart, thereby increasing the heart rate. Administering 0.5 mg is recommended as it allows for a controlled approach to managing bradycardia. If the heart rate does not improve within a few minutes, additional doses may be given, up to a total of 3 mg, but starting with 0.5 mg is the standard practice. The other dosing options vary in magnitude and would not align with the standard initial dose recommended for immediate symptom relief in this situation.