Silly question:do most patients receive an antiulcer meds while hospitalized?

[Blackheartednurse]

When I used to work in a hospital I saw many people on an antiulcer meds;I used to work on the cardiac step down unit,also whenever I read up on some conditions it is recommended to administer histamine 2 blockers,proton pump inhibitors or antacids,is this a common practice on the wards? I know that some more serious conditons would definitely prompt the MD to prescribe an antiulcers meds but I was just wandering do you guys administer a lot of antiulcer meds on your floor and for what conditons? Respiratory failure,heart surgery comes to mind but what else,thanks.

[GilaRRT]

Stress ulcer prophylaxis is not uncommon. It is particularly popular in very sick patient populations. I actually have major trauma and burn ulcer prophylaxis protocols in place when we fly these patients.

[Danielsonrg]

You need to think like this? If you're talking about a bed sore ulcer, or a gastric ulcer it doesn't matter.

A tiny injectable of lovenox cost maybe a dollar. The cost to heal a bed sore is insaine maybe $10,000, and the cost of a perforating gastric ulcer leading to peritonitis....... I'm not sure i want to know.

[cb_rn]

In two of the hospitals I've worked it was protocol for any of the surgery patients. Protonix IV and then PO when taking meds.

I'm also seeing a lot of standard orders for reglan at my lastest hospital gig. Thats a new one for me.

[Boog'sCRRN246, RN]

I've seen them administered quite a bit. There is an enormous amount of physical stress during a hospital stay, especially if surgery is involved, and physical stress can increase the risk of developing gastric ulcers. So the MD is going to order H2 blockers, PPIs, etc., to prevent this.

[cb_rn]

You need to think like this? If you're talking about a bed sore ulcer, or a gastric ulcer it doesn't matter.

A tiny injectable of lovenox cost maybe a dollar. The cost to heal a bed sore is insaine maybe $10,000, and the cost of a perforating gastric ulcer leading to peritonitis....... I'm not sure i want to know.

Lovenox is actually really expensive. Really, really expensive.

But your point is well taken. An ounce of prevention

[Blackheartednurse]

You need to think like this? If you're talking about a bed sore ulcer, or a gastric ulcer it doesn't matter.

A tiny injectable of lovenox cost maybe a dollar. The cost to heal a bed sore is insaine maybe $10,000, and the cost of a perforating gastric ulcer leading to peritonitis....... I'm not sure i want to know.

Haha,so it is always about the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$....hospitals dont want to get sued for gastric ulcers lol-I wonder if those antiulcer meds will eventually become resistant to ulcers:rolleyes:

[Blackheartednurse]

In two of the hospitals I've worked it was protocol for any of the surgery patients. Protonix IV and then PO when taking meds.

I'm also seeing a lot of standard orders for reglan at my lastest hospital gig. Thats a new one for me.

Hmm interesting is it prescribed for heartburn or vomitting?!

[Blackheartednurse]

Lovenox is actually really expensive. Really, really expensive.

But your point is well taken. An ounce of prevention

Yeah I always thought that lovenox was extremely expensive.

[Blackheartednurse]

I've seen them administered quite a bit. There is an enormous amount of physical stress during a hospital stay especially if surgery is involved, and physical stress can increase the risk of developing gastric ulcers. So the MD is going to order H2 blockers, PPIs, etc., to prevent this.[/quote']

Not to mention psychological stress LOL:)

[LouisVRN, RN]

Lovenox is very expensive, if i recall correctly, over $100 per injection, still minute to the financial, let alone physical reprocussions of a DVT/PE/MI. That being said, the ever popular protonix is only $30 for the IV and less for the PO, pretty much every patient on our med/surg floor is on either protonix or pepcid, reglan I have not seen used prophylactically other than for nausea and increasing bowel motility. But speaking of protonix, did everyone know it can show up as a false positive for a urine drug screen for THC? Just FYI showing I actually did take the time to read the insert that comes with the vial.

[shiccy]

Almost every patient that are hospitalized >1 week receive PPI or H2's. Stress ulcers are serious complications of hospitalizations... I've had more than one that has been hospitalized w/out and it's not the most entertaining thing when one of them perforates...

Almost all of our patients are on Prilosec / Nexium PO or IV... VERY rarely do we have H2's for patients UNLESS they are taking Plavix r/t the decreased bioavailability r/t the combo of Plavix and PPI's.

And we do PRN Maalox Plus for breakthrough