Which medication is often administered for bradycardia as per ACLS guidelines?

Atropine is commonly administered for the treatment of bradycardia according to Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) guidelines. This medication works by blocking the action of the vagus nerve on the heart, which leads to an increase in heart rate. In cases of symptomatic bradycardia—where the heart beats slower than normal and the patient exhibits signs of reduced cardiac output—atropine is recommended as the first-line treatment.

It is important to note that for bradycardia caused by specific factors, such as certain heart block types or when patients have certain underlying conditions, the use of atropine may be adjusted, but its primary role remains significant in acute settings. Other medications listed have different indications; for example, adenosine is typically used for certain types of tachycardia rather than bradycardia, amiodarone is primarily used for ventricular fibrillation and tachycardia, and dopamine is often used in cases of shock or hypotension rather than directly treating bradycardia.