How would you assess pain response? The patient is concerned about the redness and itching that he developed while on morphine. Would you document this as an allergic reaction? What other interventions or education may be necessary at this time?

Part 2:

Following surgery he was placed on morphine patient-controlled analgesia (PCA). He has been using 55 mg of morphine/24 hours with adequate pain control; however, he developed redness and itching on his neck that is believed to be due to the morphine.

Current Meds:  Morphine PCA; aspirin 81 mg daily; atorvastatin 80 mg at bedtime; multivitamin 1 daily; gabapentin 100 mg three times daily; pantoprazole 40 mg daily, tamsulosin 0.4 mg daily; heparin 5000 units twice daily until discharged home. He will be discharged to a skilled nursing facility for rehabilitation therapy.

You would like to convert him to a combination preparation of hydrocodone and APAP for as-needed pain relief.

• What dosing regimen would you suggest?
• What would your monitoring plan include for this patient?
• How would you assess pain response?
• The patient is concerned about the redness and itching that he developed while on morphine. Would you document this as an allergic reaction?
• What other interventions or education may be necessary at this time?