Is there a doctor in the house?

[leahbobet]

So if I were to have one character on the floor, in shock, with a nasty, bleedy, but ultimately not life-threatening gunshot graze on the head, and another who's pondering feeding her a codeine pill for the pain, would this be a good idea or a bad idea on his part? As in, is this destined to cause terrible complications and/or endanger her life further?

Your writer thanks you.

Comments

[msagara.livejournal.com]

It wouldn't, of course, be a legal idea, but it would cause no terrible complications other than that.

[msagara.livejournal.com]

Ummm, and only noticed the title of the post after I'd posted because I am sadly not very brainy atm, and I am, as you know, not a doctor... So, I'm off to write the last half of today's words. Or die trying.

[lisamantchev.livejournal.com]

The dentist to whom I am married said "not unless the person in question is allergic to codeine." *L*

[rosefox]

IANAD but I think it wouldn't be a terribly good idea to drug someone who's in shock. You want to keep them alert, and you shouldn't give any food or drink or they're likely to puke it up; ditto medications. In addition, opiates can inhibit breathing, which would be a real problem for someone who's lost a lot of blood and thus is already low on blood oxygen.

[coffeeem.livejournal.com]

Last time I was in shock, I was also in considerable pain, which the shock was keeping me from registering properly. "Rate your pain, one to ten," the nurse ordered. "Oh...maybe a five?" I said. "Right," said the nurse. "We're going to give you some nice morphine now, before you realize how much you actually hurt."

Then we had the conversation in which I learned that pain medications are most effective if you take them before you need them desperately. Medical geekery, apparently, trumps both shock and pain. *g*

[wordswoman.livejournal.com]

Here's somebody who can give you an authoritative answer:
http://www.dplylemd.com/forcomm.html

[stfg.livejournal.com]

Hi -

I'm a family practice doctor. I agree with the folks above who say it would be fine to give the codeine. What you worry about with shock is blood loss causing low blood pressure. Relieving pain can lower your blood pressure a little bit, but not enough to make a significant difference. If your character wants to relieve symptoms of shock, I would have them give fluids and electrolytes to the patient.

I also agree with coffeeem that giving meds before the pain is out of control works much better than treating pain that is already severe.

Of note: in the US, codeine is not available in a pill by itself. You can get Tylenol #3 (codeine plus Tylenol) or Vicodin (hydrocodone plus Tylenol,) but not plain codeine.

I hope this is helpful!