Home4Life In-Home Services

Medications and Pain

 

The right medications are essential to the client's well being. The wrong medications can be disastrous and even deadly. Change in behavior is not always due to a mental or physical disability.

 

Professionals and family members should understand intake and the effects of medication and the potential pain it causes to a client. While Home Care Professionals do not manage medications, they are responsible for documenting and reporting and observing clients during this time is critical.

 

 

Questions and Answers

 

Q: What are ways that medications can be given?

 

Medications can be given in a variety of ways. Some may be given to dissolve on/under the tongue, some are given to swallow, some are given as body creams while others may be given as shots with a needle. The most important this is to give the medication the way it is ordered.

 

Q: What happens when a pill is taken by mouth?

 

Its ultimate destination is to the liver. The liver is one of the most important organs in breaking down the medication so that it can be distributed throughout the body. 

 

Q: How are most medications eliminated from the body?

 

Most medications leave the body through the kidneys and are eliminated in the urine.

 

Q: What is an important factor of taking medication?

 

Liver and drug interaction, (If the liver is not working properly, and cannot break down the medication, then the medicine will continue to build up in the bloodstream. This can lead to too much medication in the body and dangerous side effects.)

 

Q: What are some risk factors of medication complications?

 

• Age, as you get older, the liver doesn't work as well and doesn't break things down as effectively as it did when you were a child.

• Alcoholism/Liver Disease, alcoholism limits the liver's ability to break medications down.

• Drug interactions, some medications compete to be broken down and can overload the liver. This can lead to drug overload in the blood stream.

 

Q: What is likely to happen if pain goes undetected and/or untreated in the client?

 

Undetected/Untreated Pain can make the client irritable or even aggressive.

 

Q: What are some of the physical clues to be aware of when assessing pain?

 

• Facial expressions

• Crying

• Stiff posture

• Change in sleep cycles

• Decreased range of motion

• Increased heart rate

• Loss of appetite

• Sudden weight loss or gain

• Withdrawal from social activities 

 

Q: There may be times when the client is unable to express with word how much pain they may be in. What can be the solution to this?

 

Professionals may use a grade scale to assess pain (1-10) or Face scale (Various facial expressions.)

 

 

Note: Information provided is only intended as guides and is not intended to be medical/legal advice. Home4Life In-Home Services reserves the right to modify this information at any time. If there are topics you would like added, please use the contact form.