Dosage Question

[trenadamm]

If a patient has been prescribed Demerol 50 mg every 3 hr PRN for moderate pain and 75mg ever 3 hrs PRN for severe pain and has an 8 on a pain scale at 1200 after receiving 75mg at 0700 and 50mg at 1000, what should the nurse do at this time?

50mg now
50mg 1300
75mg now
75mg 1300

I say 75mg now since it has been more than 3 hrs since the last administration due to severe pain.

What are your thoughts?

[starr-rn1]

Tell him to watch the clock for another hour, than slam him with another 75mg. So tell me if I got this right McFly.....the pt got meds at 07, then again at 10, so at noon how is that more than 3 hours????? Take a basic math class genius.....Also it is EITHER/OR NOT BOTH!!!!! If you give both, have some Narcan on standby. After you give EITHER the 75mg or 50mg dose, you and the pt MUST wait for 3 hours till you give another dose (again either 75 or 50mg).....This falls under using common sence dude, and you just FAILED!!!!!

[jayne1975]

I would contact the physician and suggest either a different pain medication or a change in dosing as the current med and/or scheduled dosing isn't effective for the patient's pain.

[scotttyna]

I would contact the physician and suggest either a different pain medication or a change in dosing as the current med and/or scheduled dosing isn't effective for the patient's pain.

You are absolutely right this should be done surely. You should contact a physician.