What is the formula for tapering a patient off an opioid to which they have developed dependence.
daily dose x 50%= New daily dose give 1/4 q6hrs for 2 days. New daily dose x 75% give 1/4 q6hrs for 2 days. Repeat till daily dose is 30mg per day for 2 days. Then stop.
Complex, multidimensional experience, that causes suffering and reduces quality of life, and major reason that people seek health care
PAIN
Which type of pain is often not well controlled by opioid analgesics alone?
Neuropathic pain
What level of pain is aspirin for and what are its drawbacks?
aspirin is for mild pain, drawbacks=gastric upset, platelet dysfunction, and bleeding
What drugs block the action of phospholipase thereby blocking the production of prostaglandins and leukotrienes?
Corticosteriods
In the dorsal horn, how do opioids work to relieve pain?
They block the release of neurotransmitters, particularly substance P.
What is the definition of pain according to the International Association for the Study of Pain?
“an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage, or described in terms of such damage”
What is the rule of double effect teach us?
The rule states that if an unwanted consequence (hastened death) occurs as a result of an action taken to achieve a moral good (pain relief), the action is justified because the nurse’s intent is to relieve pain.
What kind of patch can be used to help with postherpatic pain (if the skin is unbroken)?
Lidoderm patch (5% lidocaine impregnated) good for up to 12 hours few side effects
What are the two categories of pain based on the underlying pathology?
