lorazepam with morphine

[Vtachy1]

Do you give both meds anymore?  We used to always give them together on most all of our patients.  Is this not a thing anymore?

[Sandcastles, ASN, RN]

Hi there! Yes, we do...all the time. 

[vampiregirl, BSN, RN]

In hospice, this medication combination very appropriate for management of EOL symptoms. I work in the inpatient hospice setting and out in the field.

From what I'm hearing (from friends who work in acute care settings and from family members of hospice patients), it sounds like this is not medication combination that is common in more acute care setting due to safety concerns (fall risk, respiratory depression etc.). 

[MrChicagoRN, RN]

It's appropriate in the hospice setting because the rationale of giving both in a terminal patient is to decrease suffering and respiratory depression. This is s less of concern compared to the acutely ill patient.

[FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN]

We still give lorazepam and morphine together in hospice. It's a no no outside of hospice because of the increased respiratory depression.