Common Medications in the ICU

By The Family Room Care Team Last reviewed June 2025
TIP

MEDICATION SAFETY:  Nurses use special checks to make sure your loved one gets the right medicine:

  • Right patient
  • Right medication
  • Right dose
  • Right time
  • Right way to give it

We use barcode scanning on wristbands and medicine packages for extra safety.

IV Fluids
  • Help with dehydration and low blood pressure
  • Balance important body salts (electrolytes)
  • Examples: saline, dextrose, albumin
Pain Medicine
  • Helps manage pain, but may not remove it completely
  • We use a pain scale to set goals for comfort
  • Examples: fentanyl, dilaudid, morphine
Antibiotics
  • Fight infections
  • We test to make sure they’re needed and working
  • We’re careful not to overuse them
  • Examples: cefepime, vancomycin
Heart Medicine
  • Helps the heart work better
  • Examples: dopamine, dobutamine
Electrolyte Replacements
  • Replace missing body salts
  • Can be given as fluids or pills
  • Examples: potassium, calcium, magnesium
Water Pills
  • Remove extra fluid from the body
  • Example: Lasix
Blood Products
  • Replace missing blood parts
  • Examples: red cells, platelets, plasma
Blood Pressure Medicine
  • Helps control blood pressure
  • Examples: phenylephrine, norepinephrine
Sleepy Medicine
  • Makes patients calm or sleep
  • May cause some memory loss
  • Examples: propofol, versed
Steroids
  • Reduce swelling in the body
  • Examples: hydrocortisone, prednisone
TIP

Remember: Always ask if you have questions about any medicines your loved one is getting.