Copd

Specialties Hospice

Published

I admitted a patient yesterday with COPD. She is 45 years old and has been diagnosed terminal. :o 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! :)

Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

Dyspnea article, including nebulized morphine

https://allnurses.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12171&highlight=nebulized+morphine

Hope this helps.

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.

Specializes in ICU/CCU/MICU/SICU/CTICU.

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

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!

:)

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