August’s Awarness Month Feature is Pain Management Medicine
When discussing pain management medicine, it is important to determine the correct mode of administration so that the treatment is as effective as possible. The type of pain and mode of injury or illness will be a critical factor in assessing the manner in which the medication will be delivered.
Oral
This is the most common form of administration of medication. Pain medication can be delivered in pill, tablet or liquid form. The physician will work with the patient to determine the correct dosage and frequency. It is important that the patient keeps track of when the last medication was taken. The medication is most effective when taken at the intervals prescribed by the doctor. Some medication is fast acting, and other medication releases over time. This is important to remember if a dose is missed. Not everyone can take medicine by mouth, though, so they need to choose another method of administration.
Transdermal
Another method of pain medicine administration is through a patch on the skin. The patch holds the medication which is absorbed by the skin over a period of time. For any home health care worker or caregiver, they would need to determine if the patient already had a patch present before placing a new one on. It would be good to document the placement and time of the patch administration so that it is easier for any caregiver to know when it needs to be changed.
Sublingual
Some patients can have medicine administered orally, but do not have the swallowing mechanism to handle a pill or tablet. For these patients, a sublingual administration would be effective. The medication is placed under the tongue and absorbed into the skin. Because the medication is absorbed directly into the skin, the medication is faster acting. A pill or tablet works through the digestive system before being absorbed into the body.
Parenteral
Management for chronic pain could result in the need for continuous delivery of pain medicine. This type of medication delivery could result in the need for intravenous therapy. This would mean that the patient would require a bag of intravenous drugs hung on an IV pole and administered through a needle. This type of medication administration would require the most supplies because the medication and delivery mode need to remain sterile.
The most important factor for efficacy in relation to pain management medicine is to take the prescribed dose in the prescribed manner at the correct intervals. Pills, tablets, and liquids will release in such a manner that the medication level will fluctuate. This is why it is important to follow the directions.
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