avoiding overdoses when patients switch opioid pain medications (oxycodone, morphine, hydromorphone, etc)

August 2012

You'll see more emphasis on avoiding overdoses when patients switch opioid pain medications (oxycodone, morphine, hydromorphone, etc).

Switches are often needed for formulary reasons...to change the route of administration...or if an opioid isn't tolerated or working well.

For years, prescribers and pharmacists have relied on "opioid dosing charts" to switch patients from one opioid to another.

Practical advice for a better career, with unlimited access to CE

Pharmacy Technician's Letter Canada includes:

12 issues every year, with brief articles about new meds and hot topics
120+ CE courses, including the popular CE-in-the-Letter
Helpful, in-depth Technician Tutorials
Access to the entire archive

Subscribe Today!

Already a subscriber? Log in

Volume pricing available. Get a quote

Table of Contents

Transdermal Patches the right way to use patches
Medication Errors You'll hear more about look-alike, sound-alike mishaps
Nausea & Vomiting the new antiemetic, Aloxi (ah-LOX-see, palonosetron), hit your pharmacy shelves
HIV & AIDS Truvada (emtricitabine/tenofovir) to PREVENT HIV infection in adults
Opioids avoiding overdoses when patients switch opioid pain medications (oxycodone, morphine, hydromorphone, etc)
Antithrombotics Many antibiotics and antifungals can affect warfarin levels
Contraceptives the risk of blood clots and heart attacks with hormonal contraceptives
Opioids Durela (dur-REHL-ah, tramadol) increases the chance for mix-ups among tramadol forms
Healthy Lifestyles questions about using DMAA as a workout booster
Antibiotics new oral antibiotic, Dificid (DIFF-ih-sid, fidaxomicin) for treating Clostridium difficile diarrhea
Combinations patients getting combinations of certain diabetes meds...Victoza with Onglyza, Byetta with Januvia, etc
Infections prevention and treatment of diabetic foot infections
Travel Medicine how to get medications through airport screening