[webblarsk]

I admitted a patient yesterday with COPD. She is 45 years old and has been diagnosed terminal. She is on steroids, Xopenex breathing tx's. Wears a CPAP at night. O2 cont. I got her started on Guaifenesin yesterday for thick secretions. My question is............What more can I do for her symptoms? Now and when she has a exacerbation? I want to be able to control her symptoms and I know y'all will have wonderful tips and meds that other hospices are using. I know we use Ativan gel some for SOB but I just wanted to know what everyone else was doing? Thanks in advance!

[NRSKarenRN]

Dyspnea article, including nebulized morphine
http://allnurses.com/forums/showthre...lized+morphine

Hope this helps.

[aimeee]

If the Guaifenesin isn't effective then Mucomyst may be. Best thing for relief of dyspnea though is low dose sublingual morphine. Sometimes you can just visibly see the relief within minutes.

[CardioTrans]

I agree with the liquid morphine...... sometimes Roxinol is the only thing that will help when the patient is "air hungry"

[webblarsk]

Thanks, I knew I could get some suggestions from y'all. I just want to be able to control her symptoms as best as I can if the need arises!