Antibiotics - Therapy must cover all likely pathogens in the context of the clinical setting. Inadequate concentrations may produce only bacteriostatic effects. An alternative choice for patients who are allergic to penicillin. Due to possible GI irritation, advise patients to take this medication with food or milk if GI upset is noted. Analgesics ensure patient comfort, promote pulmonary toilet, and enable physical therapy regimens.
Many analgesics have sedating properties that benefit patients in pain.
DOC for conscious sedation analgesia. Easily and quickly reversed by naloxone. After the initial dose, do not titrate subsequent doses more frequently than q3h or q6h thereafter. May produce less constipation, smooth muscle spasm, and depression of the cough reflex than similar analgesic doses of morphine. DOC for patients who are hypersensitive to aspirin.