[z's playa]

Originally Posted by psychrn03

Funny you should mention pot because it would certainly be a fairly inexpensive option if not for the legality issue. All is not lost though, because in the US you can legally give Marinol. It is a synthetic form of THC and produced as a tablet. I have given this and combined with a few volts of electricity to the noggin (ECT) the pt was eating like a real champ within a week or so. I guess we don't hear much about it because of it being linked to mary jane.

hmmm...well you learn something everyday. Never heard of Marinol. Or Mary Jane for that matter. Had to ask around on that one.

[momcats3]

AT what point are you talking about using Megace? From my humble POV, I wouldn't really use Megace at all. If the patient doesn't want to eat, they don't have to. At EOL, their body is shutting down, right? Why would you do that to them? As for the family, a little teaching about EOL s/sx is what I'd do. Isn't that what hospice is all about?

[mmelvin]

Originally Posted by momcats3

AT what point are you talking about using Megace? From my humble POV, I wouldn't really use Megace at all. If the patient doesn't want to eat, they don't have to. At EOL, their body is shutting down, right? Why would you do that to them? As for the family, a little teaching about EOL s/sx is what I'd do. Isn't that what hospice is all about?

You are absolutely right. I agree. I try to talk the nurses and MDs out of Megace everytime. It's just that many of our patient are admitted to our hospice already on it and unfortuately some of the nurses have the mind set that anyone admitted with failure to thrive should have an appetite stimulant. From reading the feedback from this list I now have some research to back up my proposition to evaluate the use of appetite stimulants with our patients. You guys have given me the knowledge and support that I needed to try to go forward. Now that Medicare has stopped paying for appetitie stimulants many of our patients are going to be in trouble with the high cost. Thanks for your help.

[momcats3]

Originally Posted by mmelvin

You are absolutely right. I agree. I try to talk the nurses and MDs out of Megace everytime. It's just that many of our patient are admitted to our hospice already on it and unfortuately some of the nurses have the mind set that anyone admitted with failure to thrive should have an appetite stimulant. From reading the feedback from this list I now have some research to back up my proposition to evaluate the use of appetite stimulants with our patients. You guys have given me the knowledge and support that I needed to try to go forward. Now that Medicare has stopped paying for appetitie stimulants many of our patients are going to be in trouble with the high cost. Thanks for your help.

If you're looking for info, try HPNA @ www.hnpa.org