Had a pt a few weeks ago that "wasn't acting right" according to nursing staff. Normally the pt was lucid but that day the pt was higher than a kite with constricted pupils due to the massive dose of duragesic she was given. Her breathing was WNL. She would talk minimally when provoked but mostly just smiled. She laid in bed and barely moved which was different because she normally was able to sit up and move around with a walker. PMH included chronic pn, hip fx, multiple spinal fx, etc. I decided not to give her narcan. When I got to the hospital they asked why I didn't give her narcan. I didn't because normally she's depressed and in a lot of pn but that day she was smiling. Why ruin it for her. She was in her late 70s. Anyway, I'm curious what you guys would have done in that situation.
Fentanyl is good
- Thread starter Guardian
- Start date
ems_is_4_me
Forum Ride Along
- 7
- 0
- 0
Good Job
I Thank You Handled It Well It The Pt Was Not There Self Why Compound The Problem
I Thank You Handled It Well It The Pt Was Not There Self Why Compound The Problem
randyb
Forum Probie
- 17
- 0
- 0
Sounds like you checked her vitals and made sure she wasn't crashing. So why cause needless pain? Monitor and transport. Better for her, better for you and if the E.R. folks don't like it, they can give her the Narcan.
BTW. In our area we are getting quite a few overdoses with Fentanyl patches with folks 'eating them'.
BTW. In our area we are getting quite a few overdoses with Fentanyl patches with folks 'eating them'.
- 8,009
- 58
- 48
Another method would be to give a VERY SLOW push of Narcan and titrate to effect.... Solve the "altered" problem but leave the pain help.
oldschoolmedic
Forum Lieutenant
- 124
- 1
- 0
Sadly
People have died from chewing or ingesting fentanyl patches. I thought it was a pretty stupid way to go, but what do I know.
As far as that call, don't be so quick to use narcan. You did a good job and a good humanitarian thing doing what you did. Save narcan for those with respiratory depression, or those checking their reservations with St. Peter.
Mercy for the junkie is another thing altogether, lol. Four words - ER. Doorstep. Narcan Bomb. It's like a junkie hand grenade, or something Wile E. Coyote would buy from Acme, just push the plunger and watch it explode.
People have died from chewing or ingesting fentanyl patches. I thought it was a pretty stupid way to go, but what do I know.
As far as that call, don't be so quick to use narcan. You did a good job and a good humanitarian thing doing what you did. Save narcan for those with respiratory depression, or those checking their reservations with St. Peter.
Mercy for the junkie is another thing altogether, lol. Four words - ER. Doorstep. Narcan Bomb. It's like a junkie hand grenade, or something Wile E. Coyote would buy from Acme, just push the plunger and watch it explode.
Ridryder911
EMS Guru
- 5,923
- 40
- 48
I agree, I would had done the same thing.. ever see an old addict reverse? Not a pretty sight, if she was breathing, and not compromised, let them deal with reversing and withdraws....
R/r 911
R/r 911
FF894
Forum Captain
- 261
- 0
- 0
I think you did the right thing. Almost any call "out of the ordinary" the nurses play Monday morning quater back and say what they would have done. Most of them don't have a clue what its like in the feild.