pancreatitis- demerol or morphine?

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hello all! i'm studying for my nclex and i am so confused on which meds to give to a patient with pancreatitis. One book says no morphine because of spasms and to give demerol. Another book says that these days morphine is actually okay to give...it also says dilaudid is okay to give. I was always taught no morphine, and to give demerol. Which one is it? I am so confused after reading several books/questions! Please help! Thank you for responding!

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I do not know the specific answer to this one, but wanted to say that there are situations with different reference sources stating different answers. You have to come to your own conclusion about which answer to go with should you encounter one of these questions with disputed answers. One way to look at it, pick a reference and go with it. Or, look at the publication date of each of your references and go with the latest, or use another criteria. But don't obsess and ruminate over a question to the point that you waste valuable time.

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yeah, looking at the latest seems like the best! of course i am not obsessing over this question cause there are so many other topics to study for...i just came upon it and wanted to know if anybody knew the answer.

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

My understanding is that morphine will cause spasms of the sphincter of Oddi, which is incredibly painful

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Specializes in Trauma | Surgical ICU.

Demerol is considered the best drug of choice with Pancreatitis. It causes less spasms in the sphincter of ODDI. While Morphine is believed to worsen the spasms.

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Demerol for pancreatitis

Morphine for MI

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This is another sacred cow that needs to be put to pasture. All narcotics, including Demerol, have the potential to cause spasms at the sphincter of Oddi.

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Specializes in SICU.

We do not use Demerol at my hospital ( very VERY rarely ) pancreatitis gets dilaudid.

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Demerol is not on formulary at my hospital so it is never given. Not sure what the answer is for the NCLEX but in my real world we give morphine or dilaudid if the patient can not take morphine.

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