Mild Pain
Acetaminophen(Tylenol) 650mg PO q6h PRN pain, fever
Acetaminophen (Tylenol) 650 mg Rectal suppository, Q4hr PRN pain, fever
Motrin (Ibuprofen) 600mg PO q8h PRN mild pain
Moderate Pain
-Naproxen 500mg PO then 250mg q8h (max 1250mg/ day) PRN
-Ketorolac (Toradol) 15-30mg IV/ IM or 10mg PO q6h PRN mod pain (max dose 40mg/ day for 5 days), Caution in renal failure
-Tramadol 50 mg PO q4h PRN (max 400mg/ day)
-Tylenol #3 (Acetaminophen with Codeine) 300mg/30mg, one tab PO q4-6h PRN pain
Severe Pain
-Percocet (Oxycodone/ Acetaminophen) 5mg/325mg, one tab PO q6h PRN
-Norco (Hydrocodone/ Acetaminophen) 5mg/325mg, one tab PO q4-6h PRN
-Morphine 2 mg IV q4-6h PRN severe pain.
-Dilaudid (Hydromorphone) 0.5 mg IV q4h PRN severe pain
For conversion, use the opioid conversion table.
When appropriate, Have scheduled pain med plus a prn pain med for breakthrough pain medication. The scheduled pain med should be long-acting and the prn med should be short-acting.
E.g., combine a long-acting analgesic (e.g. Oxycontin-ER q12H or MS-Contin BID) with a short-acting PRN (e.g. morphine, Dilaudid).