Analgesics Flashcards
Considerations for Opioid Agents
In Children
- Use opioids ONLY when absolutely necessary
- Dosage carefully calculated
- Monitor closely for Adverse Effects
Considerations for Opioid Agents
In Adults
- Encourage to request pain medication before pain gets out of control
- Caution in pregnancy and lactation
- Narcotics CAN be used in labor - but ONLY before 6 cm. dilation
Considerations for Opioid Agents
In Older Adults
- More likely to experience adverse effects
- More likely to develop toxicity because of renal and hepatic impairment
- Implement safety measures such as fall precautions
- Ask if they need the pain meds before automatically administering what has been ordered
Opioid Agonists
Things to consider regarding safety of using these drugs
- Schedule II Controlled Substance
- Potential for physical dependence
- Rising problem of addiction
Opioid Agonists
Mechanism of Action
- Stimulates opioid receptor sites in the CNS
- Produces analgesia, sedation, and a sense of well-being or euphoria
Opioid Agonists
Drug Names
- Morphine
- Hydromorphine
- Codeine
- Oxycodone
- Fentanyl
- Hydrocodone
Opioid Agonists
Indications
- Relief of severe acute or chronic pain
- Analgesia during anesthesia
- PCA pump used for post surgical pain management
Opioid Agonists
Contraindications
Absolute:
* Allergy
* Diarrhea caused by poisons (opioids cause decreased GI motility which would lead to greater poison absorption)
Cautions:
* Respiratory dysfunction, asthma, emphysema
* Pregnancy, labor, lactation
* GI or GU surgery (because of decreased GI motility)
* Acute abdomen or ulcerative colitis
* Head injuries, alcoholism, delirium tremens, or a CVA (drug would make worsening symptoms hard to differentiate)
Opioid Agonists
Adverse Effects
- 🫁 Respiratory depression with apnea
- 💓 CV: Cardiac arrest, Shock, Orthostatic hypotension
- 🤢 GI: Nausea, vomiting, constipation
- 🧠 CNS: dizziness, fear, hallucinations
Opioid Agonists
Drug Interactions
Many
* Barbituate general anesthetics
* SSRIs (inc. risk of Serotonin Syndrome)
* Cholinergic Agonists
* Antihypertensive Agents
Opioid Agonist-Antagonists
Drug Names
Buprenorphine
Butorphanol
Nalbuphine
Opioid Agonist-Antagonists
Mechanism of Action
- Act as partial agonists at the mu-opioid receptors and antagonists at the kappa-opioid receptors in the CNS
- Produce analgesia, sedation, euphoria, and hallucinations
Opioid Agonist-Antagonists
Indications
- Moderate to severe pain
- Some can be used to treat opioid use disorder (addiction)
Opioid Agonist-Antagonists
Contraindications
Absolute:
* Allergy
* Nalbuphine: Sulfite allergy
Cautions:
* Physical dependence on a narcotic –> can trigger withdrawal symptoms
* COPD and disease of the respiratory tract
* Acute MI or documented CAD, HTN –> stimulates heart, exacerbating these symptoms
* Renal or hepatic dysfunction
* Pregnancy and lactation
Opioid Agonist-Antagonists
Adverse Effects
🫁 Respiratory depression
🤢 GI: Nausea, vomiting, constipation, and biliary spasm actions
🧠 CNS: headache, dizziness, psychoses, anxiety, hallucinations
😶Ureteral spasm, urinary retention
😰Sweating and dependence
Opioid Agonist-Antagonists
Drug Interactions
- Barbiturate general anesthetics
- Narcotic agents (can cause severe respiratory depression, overdose)
Opioid Agonists & Opioid Agonist-Antagonists
Assessment
History:
* Check for allergy, allergy to sulfites, Respiratory disease, Acute MI, CAD, HTN, Renal and hepatic dysfunction, pregnancy or lactation, diarrhea caused by poison, GI or GU surgery, Acute abdomen or ulcerative colitis, head injury, alcoholism, delirium tremens, or CVA
Physical:
* Perform a PAIN assessment
* CNS: affect, orientatio, reflexes, pupil size
* Respiratory: rate and lung sounds
* CV: BP, pulse, cardiac output
* GI: abdomen, bowel sounds
* GU: output, bladder distension
Labs:
* Renal and Liver function tests
Opioid Agonists & Opioid Agonist-Antagonists
Implementation/Patient Teaching
- Baseline pain assessments
- Monitor respiratory status before and during therapy
- Have an opioid antagonist and equipment for assisted ventilation readily available
- Monitor injection sites for irritation and extravasation (leakage of fluid)
- Monitor timing of analgesic doses (make sure to give them at the right time before pain gets out of control)
- Use extreme caution when injecting these drugs into any body area that is chilled or has poor perfusion or shock
- Use additional non-pharmacological measures to relieve pain
- Encourage ambulation and small frequent meals to prevent constipation
Opioid Agonists & Opioid Agonist-Antagonists
Nursing Diagnoses/Conclusions
- Altered sensory perception (r/t to CNS effects)
- Constipation, nausea, vomiting (r/t to GI effects)
- Altered gas exchange (r/t respiratory depression)
- Injury Risk (r/t CNS effects)
Opioid Antagonists
Drug Names
Naloxone
Naltrexone
Opioid Antagonists
Mechanisms of Action
Bind strongly to (but do not activate) opioid receptors to reverse the effects of opioids
Opioid Antagonists
Indications
Naloxone: Nasal spray, quickly reverses adverse effects of opioids, used to diagnose a suspected acute opioid overdose
Naltrexone: Used orally in the management of alcohol or opioid dependence MUST have already completed detoxification