Be Prepared to Dispense Alternatives to Commonly Used Opioids

May 2018

Your hospital may be feeling pain from the shortage of injectable opioids...fentanyl, hydromorphone, morphine, etc.

These very challenging shortages are partly due to manufacturing delays...and they could last for months.

Stay alert for mix-ups due to changes in opioid container sizes or strengths...product availability may change from week to week.

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Table of Contents

Storage & Disposal Keep Certain Products Off Patient Care Units
Shortages Be Prepared to Dispense Alternatives to Commonly Used Opioids
Med Safety Use Clear and Complete Information to Prevent Med Name Mix-Ups
Cystic Fibrosis Think of Symdeko as Similar to Kalydeco or Orkambi for Cystic Fibrosis
Steroids Keep Corticosteroids for ICU Patients Straight
IV Medications All IV Fluids Aren't Created Equal
Probiotics Know How to Handle Probiotics
HIV & AIDS Ensure Inpatients Don't Miss Doses of Meds Used to Prevent HIV
Inhalers Qvar RediHaler Is a "Breath-Actuated" Form of Qvar
Renal & Urology Think of Noctiva as a Low-Dose DDAVP Nasal Spray