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Suspected Substance Withdrawal in Adolescents — Adjunctive Medications for Symptomatic Opioid Withdrawal — Clinical Pathway: Inpatient

Suspected Substance Withdrawal in Adolescents Clinical Pathway — Inpatient

Adjunctive Medications for Symptomatic Withdrawal

  • Opioid withdrawal is very uncomfortable; consider ordering the following to help manage specific symptoms
  • Can consider as primary therapy if adolescent refuses opioid replacement therapy
  • Dosing as per formulary
Symptom Medication
Nausea/Vomiting Ondansetron
Autonomic Instability
Hypertension, tachycardia, diaphoresis, cramps, etc.
Clonidine
GI Distress
  • Loperamide
  • Dicyclomine
Anxiety/Insomnia
  • Diphenhydramine
  • Hydroxyzine
  • Trazodone
Pain
  • Acetaminophen
  • Ibuprofen
  • Ketorolac
  • Opioids
    • Full opioid agonist (oxycodone) may be indicated to provide symptom relief
Agitation

 

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