Anyone still giving Demerol?

Nurses Medications

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Specializes in ER.

I just read in another thread about Demerol being given. I thought that went out at least 6 or 7 years ago. It seems that, as soon as Dilaudid came along, Demerol went out the window, especially in light of some of the serious side effects it could induce.

I haven't given it in ages. It used to be a staple back in the day. Who here is still giving it and in what region do you practice?

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Only indication at my last job was for immediate post op rigors. Big university teaching hospital, Northeast

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Specializes in ER, Addictions, Geriatrics.

We have a migraine patient that comes in about twice a month with her care plan from the neurologist giving the OK for an IM of Demerol and Gravol.

I think it's kind of bogus myself but..

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.

​We used it for post-op rigors or chemotherapy rigors. Other than that, it was absolutely verboten.

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

I have a patient that takes it regularly for headaches.I'm in Canada.

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Specializes in Emergency/Trauma/Critical Care Nursing.

I've only had to give it once for an elderly woman with documented allergies to literally everything besides Tylenol and demerol. Even then I had to leave the ED to get it from a med surg pyxis.

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Specializes in ER, Addictions, Geriatrics.

Must be a Canadian thing Lori, lol. I'm from Canada too.

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I love Demerol and it's tends to be very effective when I've given it. I know it has it's issues like anything else but IM Demerol seems to really really work for pain. Usually have only run across it with allergy issues to everything else but it does seem to have far less of attachment issues that my patients on dilaudid have. Honestly I wish it was used more or that more pain meds were IM. Whether it the drug or the route or both, it's dang effective.

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Specializes in LTC, med/surg, hospice.

I'm in the South and I recall giving IM Demerol for a post op hys this year. I think she had allergy to other morphine and dilaudid.

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We use it solely for rigors.

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Specializes in Psych, Case Management, Care Coordination.

I received Demerol when I delivered my boys. Who knew childbirth could be so much fun? ?

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Specializes in Palliative, Onc, Med-Surg, Home Hospice.

I've given IM Demerol for a post op T&A recently. There are two surgeons who order it for post op pain, one is an ENT and the other is a general surgeon. The general surgeon only orders it for lap chole's. Most other surgeons order morphine or dilaudid. I still get demerol/phenergen for Status Migrainus. However, that is because my neurologist has ordered it. Demerol and morphine actually makes it worse.

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