Personal ? re: PCA drugs

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · May 7, 2005

Hi, I haven't worked in a hospital in years. I am facing some major surgery in a few weeks, and have previous experience as a patient with a PCA w/ Morphine. That morphine made me itch terribly, and since that time I have also developed other allergies (Ibuprofen and beer, of all things!) My question is: are there other meds that are now used in the PCA? Do you have other suggestions for pain control, besides oral meds, because I doubt I'll be eating for a day or two. Thanks, everyone.

You and me both.......I all but clawed my face off when I had morphine, and I won't go through that again. We very rarely use Demerol PCA anymore unless that's the only drug tolerated; most of the time now we use Dilaudid for pts who can't stand the MS. You might want to ask for that, plus some anti-pruritics like Atarax or Nubain ahead of time, just in case it does cause some itching.

Good luck w/ your surgery!

meownsmile, BSN, RN · May 7, 2005

We use demerol reguarly in PCA's. I have a hard time with it now because they still want to give it to older patients and it messes with their head real bad. But,, depending on what kind of surgery you are having there are other things. The hyster patients love Toradol IV for pain control. Not a good idea if you have bleeding issues but is very successful with those patients. Joint replacement patients like toradol also, but has to used carefully and for only specified time frames. Dilauded may be good too, but we dont use much of that so im not the best to answer to its benefits.