Hospice Care and Medications
Hospice care provides comfort and quality of life for patients with life-limiting illnesses. To manage symptoms like pain, nausea, anxiety, and depression, hospice providers often use medications. The most common hospice drugs relieve pain, a common symptom caused by the disease, treatments, or side effects. Fentanyl patches or dissolving tablets help relieve severe, ongoing cancer pain. The most prescribed drugs are acetaminophen, haloperidol, lorazepam, morphine, and prochlorperazine. Morphine and related opioids like hydromorphone, codeine and fentanyl may control pain or shortness of breath. Hospice increases patient comfort through services like nursing, caregiver training, and therapeutic massage. Medications also relieve end-of-life symptoms like pain, shortness of breath, anxiety and nausea. However, patients and families may not understand why a medicine is prescribed and have concerns about certain drugs.
Key Aspects of Hospice Care
Hospice care is for patients with less than six months to live. We make the most of the remaining time by assuring the best care. Diagnoses treated include: cancer, Alzheimer’s, COPD, CHF, stroke, HIV/AIDS, multiple sclerosis, and more. Bisacodyl stimulates the intestines to cause a bowel movement, relieving constipation. As patients eat and drink less, constipation is common. Bisacodyl brand names are Correctol, Dulcolax, and Fleet. It should not be taken more than once daily or for over a week without consulting a doctor.
Patient Care in Hospice Settings
Hospice visits are important for patient care. The team teaches families how to care for patients properly. The most commonly prescribed drugs are opioids and nonopioids for pain, anxiolytics, anticholinergics, and antipsychotics. Appropriate pain medications include morphine, oxycodone, and alfentanil. Midazolam treats breathlessness. Haloperidol, levomepromazine, midazolam or phenobarbital treat delirium. Although patients may have had infections, we focused on antibiotics prescribed on discharge for: bloodstream infections, pneumonia, sepsis, pressure ulcers, respiratory infections, and more. Sometimes patients revoke hospice to resume curative treatment. Profitability of hospices varies greatly depending on factors like size, location, and services offered. However, they are often profitable with high prices and low overhead. About 73.9% of hospital visits involve drug therapy. Analgesics, electrolytes, and anti-nausea agents are most common. However, errors occur, harming 1 in 100. Morphine treats intense surgical pain. Extended release is an option. If hospital practices contribute to errors, they can share liability. To prevent errors, technology improvements like computerized ordering, barcoding, and electronic records are used.
FAQ: Common Drugs in Hospice Care
What are the 4 hospice drugs?
What are the 3 end of life drugs?