PRN meds - question

[MSN Student]

I'm a new nurse. If you have a patient say on Ativan tid and PRN q6h, can you give the PRN Ativan one or two hours after you've given the scheduled dose of Ativan, if the scheduled dose isn't doing the job. Sorry if this is a dumb question.

[jojotoo, RN]

Yes, you can give it as you asked. But you won't be able to give another PRN dose for six hours.

[MSN Student]

Thank you for your very quick reply. It is very appreciated.

[jojotoo, RN]

Glad to help.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

In general you could look up the drug in your reference material to see what the maximum dose is at any given time or within 24 hours. For instance, a lot of people think Tylenol is absolutely safe. But you can overdose on that too!

[morte, LPN, LVN]

I'm a new nurse. If you have a patient say on Ativan tid and PRN q6h, can you give the PRN Ativan one or two hours after you've given the scheduled dose of Ativan, if the scheduled dose isn't doing the job. Sorry if this is a dumb question.

the best bet would be to have the doc write a more specific order, ie "not to be given closer than...."

[PsychRN-Kris]

I'm a new nurse. If you have a patient say on Ativan tid and PRN q6h, can you give the PRN Ativan one or two hours after you've given the scheduled dose of Ativan, if the scheduled dose isn't doing the job. Sorry if this is a dumb question.

Don't be sorry...this actually a very good question! Yes, as the previous posters noted, it is okay to give the PRN dose as ordered if the scheduled dose is not working as long as the PRN doses are 6 hours apart. A Not To Exceed is usually written with a Ativan since the maximum dose recommended for adults is usually 10mg/24hours. If the patient were getting 2mg TID and another 2mg PRN q6h they could potentially get 12mg+ in 24 hours. I'd ask the physician to clarify the order with a NTE__mg/24hrs.

[MSN Student]

Thanks so much for the help!