She never complained of pain and told us she felt comfortable on the Tylenol. She did not have any objective signs of being in pain. She did not wince when she moved, never moaned, and moved around the house easily. Even though she had no severe pain, and had not requested pain medication, they actually increased the strong dosage of narcotics to an even stronger dosage. In 7 weeks she was dead from respiratory failure during the night.
Respiratory failure is one of the most common adverse effects of narcotic medications.
Sedation and sleepiness is a common adverse effect of antidepressants. Research shows that use of narcotics is safe if given according to the accepted standards of practice, and that if the patient is actually complaining of pain or objectively in pain, the use of narcotics for pain relief is quite appropriate. Small, mild doses of morphine are sometimes given during hospice care for respiratory comfort, but strong doses are normally reserved for managing severe pain. When dosages are given repeatedly, even though the body is not metabolizing the medication well, the medications build up within the body and may cause severe adverse side effects. If you suspect that your loved one is being over-medicated or even being given medications that are not needed at all, it is important to directly speak with your loved one's RN case manager to get an understanding of her rationale for giving these medications.