Routes of meds

Specialties Psychiatric

Published

In an acute mental health hospital, are all meds given by mouth? Or are some meds given IM or IV?

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When I worked on an inpatient unit at our local hospital, most meds were given po. We used IM prn for acute psychosis or agitation, and in some cases would give a decanoate injection if we knew this would be continued when they returned to OP services.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Geri, Ortho, Telemetry, Psych.

When I worked psych, we gave all routine meds PO, and used IM meds for acute episodes of:bugeyes: agitation/aggression/etc. I don't think I ever saw any IV meds in psych, but I guess it's possible.

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Specializes in Psych, education.

You may give IV Ativan for folks going through severe alcohol detox.

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