Colon Resection Medication

Updated: Mar 28, 2023
  • Author: David E Stein, MD, MHCM; Chief Editor: Vikram Kate, MBBS, MS, PhD, FACS, FACG, FRCS, FRCS(Edin), FRCS(Glasg), FFST(Ed), FIMSA, MAMS, MASCRS  more...
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Medication

Medication Summary

The patient's home medications can be resumed during hospitalization post surgery. For pain control, patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) or intermittent morphine administration is appropriate. These can be transitioned to oral pain medications, such as oxycodone, acetaminophen, or ketorolac.

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Analgesics

Class Summary

Pain control is essential to quality patient care. It ensures patient comfort and promotes pulmonary toilet.

Morphine (MS Contin, Kadian, Duramorph)

Morphine is the drug of choice for narcotic analgesia because of its reliable and predictable effects, safety profile, and ease of reversibility with naloxone. Morphine sulfate is easily titrated to the desired level of pain control. If administered IV, morphine may be dosed in a number of ways; it is commonly titrated until the desired effect is obtained.

Oxycodone (Oxaydo, OxyContin, Roxicodone)

Oxycodone is indicated for the relief of moderate to severe pain. Inhibits ascending pain pathways by binding to the opiate receptor.  Alters the response and perception of pain. Produces generalized CNS depression.

Acetaminophen (Acephen, Mapap, Cetafen, Ofirmev, Q-Pap, Tylenol, Valorin)

Acetaminophen is the DOC for the treatment of pain in patients with documented hypersensitivity to aspirin or NSAIDs, as well as in those with upper GI disease or who are taking oral anticoagulants.

Codeine/acetaminophen (Tylenol #3, Tylenol #4, Tylenol with Codeine)

This combination is indicated for the treatment of mild to moderate pain.

Hydrocodone/acetaminophen (Norco, Hycet, Vicodin, Zamicet)

Indicated for the relief of moderately severe to severe pain.

Ketorolac

Ketorolac inhibits prostaglandin synthesis by decreasing the activity of COX, which results in decreased formation of prostaglandin precursors.

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