A hypotensive and hypoglycemic patient should be given which drug?

• A. D50
• B. Epinephrine
• C. Normal saline
• D. Glucagon

Answer: (A)

Rapidly elevating blood glucose is the immediate priority when a patient is both hypotensive and hypoglycemic. Administering intravenous dextrose delivers glucose directly into the bloodstream, providing a rapid correction of the glucose deficit within seconds to minutes. This helps restore cellular energy quickly and supports perfusion in a shock state.

Glucagon can raise glucose, but it depends on hepatic glycogen stores and is slower, and less reliable in a severely hypoglycemic or malnourished patient. It’s often used when IV access isn’t available. Normal saline may help with blood pressure but does not address the low blood glucose. Epinephrine can raise glucose indirectly but is not the primary treatment for hypoglycemia and won’t correct the deficit as rapidly as IV glucose.