Re: Tylenol Suppository
Your instincts are correct...topical application of your tylenol suppository is not effective and not part of the hospice plan of care.
Temperature instability is a common sign observed in people who are "actively dying". It is, in large part, due to the CNS destabilization as the person nears death. Those things controlled centrally become less stable...things like reflexes, temperature, respiratory patterns, etc. Many times the tylenol is ineffective but helps family to feel like they are helping. My experience is that if you give tylenol the "fever" goes away, and if you do not give tylenol the "fever" goes away. My recommendation would be, in an unresponsive actively dying patient who has a temp of >100, put a cool damp cloth on their forehead, give them rectal Tylenol if ordered, don't worry if they poop it out. Don't try to melt it into their skin on the abdomen...just hold their hand, reassure them, make sure they are in a comfortable position on their bed...etc...keep them comfy.
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