Routes of administration
Opioids may be administered via the following routes:
- intramuscularly
- intravenously:
- patient-controlled
- constant rate infusion
- subcutaneously
- orally
- epidurally
Close scrutiny must be paid to the patient receiving opioids because of the unpredictability of side effects. Hence, hourly respiration rates and sedation scores, and ideally pulse oximetry, should be instituted.
Ref: Rowbotham, D. (1993). Postoperative pain. Prescribers' Journal, 33:6, 237-243.
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