"NEVER give someone on chronic opiates 2mg of IV narcan, NEVER."
GREAT ADVICE!
In my 24 years as a Paramedic, I've made a few mistakes ... This is one of the errors that I share most frequently with my new medics in training.
I once ran a Pt with cancer, he was on a boat load of opiates, for obvious reasons. We were called to a Pt not breathing, and as a brand new medic I was there to save the day - uh, I mean Pt. The Pt actually was breathing, just not very often. So I loaded up my 2mg of narcan and pushed away. Not only did he start breathing at a normal rate, but I listened to him scream for the entire 40 minute transport. A terrible mistake that I've never repeated, and pray nobody else has to endure (Pt nor medic).
Great thread, for everyone to learn from...
Sent from my thing...