PCA - Patient Controlled Analgesia

Common agents / Protocols
Fentanyl Hydromorphone
Meperidine Morphine

Fentanyl  top of page icon
(Usual concentration: 10 or 50mcg/ml)

Bolus (Loading)
25-50 mcg (range: 15-75 mcg)

Intermittent dose (patient activated Dose):
Range: 10-50 mcg
Usual starting: 10 mcg

Lockout Interval
6 - 8 minutes (Range: 3-10 min)

4 hour limit (opiate naïve)
3 mcg/kg or max of 300 mcg

Continuous (basal)
10 – 60 mcg/hr

Hydromorphone  top of page icon
(Usual concentration: 0.2mg/ml)

Bolus (Loading)
0.1 to 0.5 mg

Intermittent dose (patient activated Dose):
0.05 - 0.5mg Usual: 0.1 - 0.2mg

Lockout Interval
6 - 8 minutes (Range: 3-15 min)

4 hour limit (opiate naïve)
0.06 mg/kg or max of 6 mg

Continuous (basal)–optional
0.1 to 0.5 mg/hr

Meperidine  top of page icon
(Least preferred)
(Usual concentration: 10mg/ml)

Bolus (Loading)
10 - 50 mg. Usual: 25 mg

Intermittent dose (patient activated Dose):
5 - 30mg Usual: 10 mg

Lockout Interval
6 - 8 minutes (Range: 3-15 min)

Continuous (basal) –optional
5 - 20 mg/hr (avoid)

Morphine   top of page icon
(Usual concentration: 1 mg/ml)

Bolus (Loading)
1-5 mg. Usual: 2 mg

Intermittent dose (patient activated Dose):
0.5-3mg Usual: 1 mg

Lockout Interval
6 - 8 minutes (Range: 5-12 min)

4 hour limit (opiate naïve)
0.3 mg/kg or max of 30mg

Continuous (basal)–optional
0.5 – 2 mg/hr
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Disclaimer
Listed dosages are for - Adult patients ONLY. PLEASE READ THE DISCLAIMER CAREFULLY BEFORE ACCESSING OR USING THIS SITE. BY ACCESSING OR USING THIS SITE, YOU AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET FORTH IN THE DISCLAIMER. GlobalRPH does not directly or indirectly practice medicine or provide medical services and therefore assumes no liability whatsoever of any kind for the information and data accessed through the Service or for any diagnosis or treatment made in reliance thereon.

David F. McAuley, Pharm.D., R.Ph.  GlobalRPh Inc.

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