high alert medication
controlled and targeted substance
Opioid analgesic
⚠️ PCP: Requires completion of scope expansion education. Analgesia
ACP: Symptom relief in palliative or end-of-life patients with pain or shortness of breath
CCP: Analgesia
ACP: Pain management in palliative or end-of-life patients
CCP: All indications
Acts on opioid receptors (primarily mu receptors) in the central nervous system to produce analgesia, euphoria, and sedation. Interaction with receptors in the spinal cord depresses pain transmission. Produces venodilation, reducing cardiac preload.
Parenteral:
Provide airway management and ventilatory support. Consider the use of naloxone to reverse opioid intoxication. Naloxone should be used judiciously in patients on long-term opioid therapy to avoid precipitating acute withdrawal syndrome.
See Naloxone guideline.