hydrocodone

The patient’s state indicates addiction

The patient’s state indicates that the body has adjusted to hydrocodone and no longer responds to the medicine. If EP has been on therapy for a while and her health has not improved, she is becoming addicted to the medicine since her body has grown accustomed to hydrocodone. As a nurse, your first step in assisting the patient is to make her aware that hydrocodone is addictive and can create serious difficulties if she does not manage the quantity she uses by dosage.

Prescribing a new prescription

After explaining to her the addictive nature of hydrocodone, it is important that the patient is given a new prescription on using the hydrocodone to reduce the pain of fibromyalgia. The prescription given to EP by the physician is not the correct one because the effects of the drug on the patient could have been effective.

Recommendation for dosage

Prescribe to the patient that Acetaminophen-hydrocodone for a 300 mg. The patient should take 10 Mg which translates to one oral tablet after every 4 to 6 hours, and this will change her fibromyalgia condition (Adams Media (Firm), 2012). For liquid hydrocodone drug, around 15 Ml or a maximum of 6 tablespoonfuls every day for two months after which she can come for the check-up. The regular check-up for the patient enables the nurse to adjust the dosage according to the severity of the pain that the patient is feeling.

Evidence of efficacy

Research conducted by Healthline revealed that hydrocodone and oxycodone are strong painkiller prescriptions. A combination of antihistamines and hydrocodone forms an effective syrup that suppresses pain associated with fibromyalgia (Holland, 2015). The trials on various patients revealed that hydrocodone is quite sensitive and most of the patients reported some to have been addicted to the drug long after the medication (Holland, 2015).

References

Adams Media (Firm). (2012). Fibromyalgia: Medications and alternative fibromyalgia treatments: the most important information you need to improve your health. Cincinnati: F+W Media.

Holland, K. (2015). Oxycodone vs. Hydrocodone for Pain Relief. Healthline. Retrieved 17 April 2017, from http://www.healthline.com/health/pain-relief/oxycodone-vs-hydrocodone#overview1