Allow me to vent for a moment about Ativan.

[Dr.LeoSpaceman]

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I swear 75% of patients aren't on the floor for 15 minutes before asking for it "to sleep".

Let me save them time: If you weren't on it at home, you aren't getting it here.

 

[Winged Scapula]

I'm not sure that we can even blame some/most patients.

I suspect that in many cases, they complain to the nurse about insomnia and instead of doing things like telling staff at the station to STFU, offer the patient a blanket, warm drink, some socks, music, etc. the nurses immediately jump to the idea of medication.

Oh and I'm sorry: if its 1100 pm and you're complaining of being unable to sleep, unless you normally go to bed at 6 pm, its not insomnia until like 3 am.

 

[Dr.LeoSpaceman]

Too true on the nursing staff. Both on being loud, and on being the ones who are actually making the suggestion. That call usually goes something like:

Nurse: "Hi, patient XYZ is asking for Ativan because they can't sleep. They say it's the only thing that works."
Me: "Well, considering they had a hypoxic arrest just last night, I don't really think that's safe."
Nurse: "Absolutely. That's what I told the patient, but I just wanted to run it by you."

Yeah, sure you did.

 

[armybound]

Man, at least the nurses here ask for Benadryl.

 

[caffeinemia]

but but but but it's really hard to sleep with the DTs!

 

[Winged Scapula]

but but but but it's really hard to sleep with the DTs!

So when you said you only have 1 drink per day you meant a 96 ounce drink? It now all makes sense.

 

[Pir8DeacDoc]

let's be a little fair here, having a major whack and being stuck in a hospital bed would make one tend to have problems sleeping. It's not exactly a home environment. I always use a medication that is truly meant for sleep, like 5mg of ambien. I don't see how it's helpful to use a medication like benadryl with a thousand other side effects to help someone sleep. But to each their own

 

[caffeinemia]

I heard some people have had good outcomes with propofol.

 

[Leforte]

Seroquel 50mg. They'll sleep for 2 days.