UI - 000258

AU - Marks RM

AU - Sachar EJ

TI - Undertreatment of Medical Inpatients with Narcotic Analgesics

AB - Structured interviews of 37 medical inpatients being treated with narcotic analgesics for pain showed

that 32% of the patients were continuing to experience severe distress, despite the analgesic regimen, and

another 41% were in moderate stress. Chart review suggested significant undertreatment with narcotics:

Meperidine in doses of 50 mg every 3-4 hours or less (if needed) was prescribed for 63% of the 37 patients;

a dose of 75 mg was prescribed for only 1 patient

SO - Ann Intern Med 1973;78:173-181