Emergency Medicine Reports – April 15, 2020
April 15, 2020
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Pain Management in the Emergency Department: Opioids and Alternative Pain Management Therapies
Opioid therapy can be an effective form of pain management in the ED for acute painful conditions. The risk of addiction and abuse should be considered in every case. Alternatives to opioid therapy include systemic agents, such as acetaminophen, NSAIDs, lidocaine, alpha agonists, anticonvulsants, ketamine, corticosteroids, and local and regional anesthesia.