anyone ever determine whether to give morphine or demerol to pancreatitis?

Published

I've come to realize that although many of the tips on here are very helpful...some contradict each other. With pancreatitis.....is it demerol or morphine that's the chosen medication now? ATI says one thing, Saunders says another...people on the forum are torn. That's the reason I chose to study 2 sources only..Hurst and Saunders. Hurst starts Tuesday so I'm interested in what they have to say.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Neuroscience/Cardiac.

pretty sure demerol is contraindicated....

Up Vote Up Vote ×

That's what I always thought. Until I pulled out the old ATI book from school to see what it says..and ATI says morphine is contraindicated. It also says that hypoxia causes a sickle cell crisis, and to give oxygen before fluids...go figure.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

But I saw that antispasmodics are given with morphine to prevent spasm. Demerol causes CNS issues...my vote is morphine.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Pain meds:

-Morph. sulfate

-fentanyl transdermal

-PCA narcotics

In the past Demerol was the drug of choice for pancreatitis; however due to adverse drug reactions this drug is no longer used ( Hurst review)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

And I just pulled out my Med/Surg book...Lewis and Heitkemper(2007)...says IV Morphine is given with Propantheline Bromide(anti-spasmodic). So although Morphine causes spasms, the anti-spasmodic is given with it to prevent that. It also says that Demerol is not used with sickle cell crisis due to the CNS effects.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

This question has been covered before. Most people advise to choose one resource to avoid confusion because of possible contradictions. You have to use your own judgement when you run across contradictions.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

kaplan review says Morphine

p.s. i asked that Q here a couple months ago when i took kaplan review because i was confused also.

Lippinkot and Sauders are for demerol...

I am still confused, i hope not to have such a choice on my exam

Up Vote Up Vote ×

From the "For what it's worth department".....I checked on the NCSBN Learning Extension website that I'm using to study for NCLEX and per this site "Management of Pancreatitis: pain relief-meperidine (Demerol: causes less smooth muscle spasms; Morphine can also be used-longer half life). " When it comes to answering....who knows....hopefully interventions for pain will be the choice instead of a specific med. Under Nursing Interventions for pancreatitis manage pain is number 1.

It does get confusing sometimes. I even had had a question on a Kaplan test about the steps of cleaning around a central line with acetone and alcohol....When I asked the IV Therapist at work she said that was OLD and no one used that anymore...and no wonder!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

this is a good topic, coz i am rreally confused, iam reading on my note says"MORPHINE" is cotraindicated. It causes spasm of the sphincter of oddi.therefore DEMEROL should be given..... waaaaaa, pls help!!!! which one is the latest,best answer...Guys ill be waiting for ur response....

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Give demerol for pancreatits. Morphine causes spasm in the sphincter if oddi

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I was taught and seen in one of my NCLEX books that morphine is contradicted for pts with pancreatitis and to give demerol. Morphine causes spasms with pancreatitis

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion