Common Pain Medications

Acetaminophen. Ibuprofen. Hydrocodone. Ketorolac. Morphine. Hydromorphone.











Oral Acetaminophen (Tylenol)











* Give every 4-6 hours* Regular strength – 325mg* Extra strength – 500mg* Maximum Daily Dose – 3000mg











Oral Ibuprofen (Advil)











* NSAID* Give every 4-6 hours* Regular strength – 200mg* Therapeutic Ceiling – 400mg











Oral Hydrocodone-Acetaminophen (Vicodin, Norco)











* Give ever 4-6 hours* Common doses – 5-325mg, 7.5-325mg, and 10-325mg











IV/IM Ketorolac (Toradol)











* NSAID* Common dosing – 15-30mg* Therapeutic ceiling – 10mg











IV/IM morphine











* Classic dose (0.1mg/kg)* This would be 7-10mg in adults!* More COMMON dosing is 4mg* Repeat as needed











IV/IM Hydromorphone (Dilaudid)











* COMMON dosing – 0.5-1mg * This drug is notorious for bringing you to peer-review/MM conference* Be careful!











Contraindications to NSAIDS











* Pregnant patients* Elderly patients* Renal disease patients* Cardiac patients* GI/ulcer patients











Side Effects of Opiates











* Sedation* No driving* Do not mix with alcohol* Do not mix with other sedatives* Constipation* Opiate dependency/addiction











Additional Reading











* Pain Management In the Emergency Department: A Review (PubMed)* Myths in EM: The Anti-Inflammatory Properties of NSAIDS (ACEP Now)