Guide for patients uk Medication in connection with surgery
This folder describes the drugs most frequently prescribed in connection with surgery at Aleris-Hamlet Hospitals. The nursing staff will advise you which drug is most suitable for you to take. If you experience side-effects or discomfort, you should always talk to your GP or call Aleris-Hamlet. The following drugs are described in this folder: Paracetamol page 3 Ibuprofen page 4 Tramadol page 5 OxyContin (oxycodone) page 6 OxyNorm (oxycodone) page 7 Gabapentin page 8 Chlorzoxazone page 9 Ondansetron page 9 Bisacodyl page 10 Magnesia page 11 Xarelto page 11 You can find more information abut the drugs described in this folder at www.medicin.dk (Danish website). 2
Paracetamol Sold under a variety of product names, including Pamol, Panodil and Pinex, all 500 mg tablets. Basically a mild analgesic used, among other purposes, to relieve post-operative pain. Paracetamol reduces temperature. Pamol, 500 mg Recommended dose is 1g 3-4 times daily. The maximum dose is 1g 4 times daily. Rare side effects include adverse effects on the liver. Panodil, 500 mg Paracetamol, 500 mg Pinex, 500 mg 3
Ibuprofen Available under the following product names: Brufen, Ibumetin, Ibuprofen and Ipren. 200 mg or 400 mg. 400 mg available on prescription only. Mild painkiller, often prescribed to relieve pain after surgery. Reduces temperature and also suppresses tissue reactions (inflammation and swelling) after surgery. Brufen, 400 mg A Non Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID). Recommended dose is from 200 mg 2-4 times a day. The maximum dose is a total dose of 1800 mg daily. Pyrosis/heartburn and abdominal discomfort. To avoid excessive discomfort, we recommend that you take the drug for short periods only (about one week). Ibumetin, 400 mg Ibuprofen, 400 mg Ibuprofen should be taken with care if you are also taking an anti-coagulant drug. Ipren, 200 mg 4
Tramadol Sold under the product names Dolol, Nobligan, Mandolgin, etc. Prescription drugs. Mild to moderate painkiller. A synthetic opioid drug which is often used to relieve post-operative pain Tramadol, 50 mg Recommended dose is from 50 mg 2-4 times a day. The maximum dose is a total dose of 400 mg daily. Frequent side-effects include nausea, dizziness, drowsiness, thirstiness, tiredness and constipation. Dolol, 50 mg The effects are amplified if you also take sedatives and ingest alcohol. Traffic and safety at work Tramadol will make you feel drowsy, especially in the beginning of the treatment and when increasing the dosage. It might affect your safety at work and your ability to drive safely: Therefore, you are not allowed to drive a car, motorcycle or ride your bicycle while taking the drug. Moreover, you must not work with heavy machinery or power tools. If you need to take this drug for a prolonged period, you should make an agreement with your GP about when you can start driving again. Nobligan, 50 mg Mandolgin, 50 mg 5
OxyContin (oxycodone) Available as 5 and 10 mg tablets. The active ingredient is oxycodone. Prescription drug. This potent analgesic opioid drug is often to relieve pain after surgery. OxyContin, 5 mg OxyContin is a sustained-release product, which works for up to 12 hours. The tablet should be swallowed whole. The prescribed dose of OxyContin is often 1 tablet twice a day. The most frequent side-effects are nausea, drowsiness, dizziness and constipation. In the event of an overdose, the patient drifts into unconsciousness. The effects are amplified if you also take sedatives and ingest alcohol. OxyContin, 10 mg Traffic and safety at work OxyContin will make you feel drowsy, especially in the beginning of the treatment and when increasing the dosage. It might affect your safety at work and your ability to drive safely: Therefore, you are not allowed to drive a car, motorcycle or ride your bicycle while taking the drug. Moreover, you must not work with heavy machinery or power tools. If you need to take this drug for a prolonged period, you should make an agreement with your GP about when you can start driving again. 6
OxyNorm (oxycodone) Available as 5 and 10 mg tablets. The active ingredient is oxycodone. Prescription drug. This potent analgesic opioid drug is often to relieve pain after surgery. OxyNorm, 5 mg An OxyNorm capsule works for 4-6 hours. The recommended dose of OxyNorm is 1 capsule as required 4-6 times a day. The most frequent side-effects are nausea, vomiting, dizziness and constipation. In the event of an overdose, the patient drifts into unconsciousness. The effects are amplified if you also take sedatives and ingest alcohol. OxyNorm, 10 mg Traffic and safety at work OxyNorm will make you feel drowsy, especially in the beginning of the treatment and when increasing the dosage. It might affect your safety at work and your ability to drive safely: Therefore, you are not allowed to drive a car, motorcycle or ride your bicycle while taking the drug. Moreover, you must not work with heavy machinery or power tools. If you need to take this drug for a prolonged period, you should make an agreement with your GP about when you can start driving again. 7
Gabapentin Available as 300, 400, 600 and 800 mg tablets or capsules (depending on pharmaceutical company). Prescription drug. This is an anticonvulsant drug which can be used as part of pain treatment. The drug affects neural transfer and therefore relieves pain. The recommended dose of gabapentin is 400 mg twice a day. The recommended dose may be exceeded on medical advice. The maximum dose is 800 mg four times a day. Dizziness, drowsiness, and fatigue. The most frequent side-effect is abdominal discomfort. In the event of an overdose, the patient drifts into unconsciousness. The effects are amplified if you also take sedatives and ingest alcohol. Gabapentin actavis, 300 mg Gabapentin pfizer" 400 mg Gabapentin ratiopharm, 600 mg Traffic and safety at work Gabapentin can cause side effects, which may affect your safety at work and the ability to drive safely. Therefore, you should not drive a car, operate complex machinery or perform other possibly dangerous activities before you know how this medicine affects your ability to perform these activities. 8
Chlorzoxazone Available as 250 mg tablets. Prescription drug. A muscle relaxant. Used in combination with painkillers after surgery. The recommended dose of chlorzoxazone is 1 table three times a day for about 5 days. The maximum dose i 500 mg four times a day. Fatigue, dizziness and abdominal discomfort are the most frequent side-effects. The effects are amplified if you also take sedatives and ingest alcohol. Chlorzoxazone, 250 mg Traffic and safety at work Chlorzoxazone will make you feel drowsy, especially in the beginning of the treatment and when increasing the dosage. It might affect your safety at work and your ability to drive safely: Therefore, you are not allowed to drive a car, motorcycle or ride your bicycle while taking the drug. Moreover, you must not work with heavy machinery or power tools. If you need to take this drug for a prolonged period, you should make an agreement with your GP about when you can start driving again. Ondansetron Available as 4 and 8 mg tablets or capsules. Prescription drug. To relieve nausea. Ondansetron is prescribed to relieve nausea, 4 mg on medical advice. Maximum dose is 16 mg daily. Headaches, constipation, reddening and hot flushes are the most frequent side-effects. Ondansetron BMM Pharma, 4 mg Ondansetron should be taken with care if you have impaired liver function and a weak heart. 9
Bisacodyl Laxative. Active ingredient is bisacodyl. Sold under the product names Perilax, Toilax and Dulcolax, all 5 mg tablets. Stimulates peristaltic action. Often used to prevent constipation when the patient is also taking opioid painkillers. Perilax, 5 mg The recommended initial dose is 5 mg once a day. The dose can be increased if required. Can cause gripes and diarrhoea. Toilax, 5 mg Laxatives are habit-forming. Dulcolax, 5 mg 10
Magnesia Laxative. Sold only under the name Magnesia, but by different pharmaceutical companies, all 500 mg tablets. Softens stools and often used to prevent constipation. Magnesia medic, 500 mg Recommended initial dose is 1 x 500 mg Magnesia tablet twice a day. The dose can be increased/reduced if required. Can cause gripes and diarrhoea, also nausea and vomiting. Magnesia DAK, 500 mg Magnesia is habit-forming. Xarelto Available as 10 mg tablets. The active ingredient is rivaroxaban. Prescription drug. Taken to prevent strokes. After surgery, Xarelto is taken as 1 tablet daily for about 10 days. Can cause haemorrhaging. Xarelto, 10 mg Should only be taken on medical advice if you are already taking another anticoagulant. 11
Aalborg Sofiendalsvej 97 DK-9200 Aalborg SV Tel.: +45 3637 2750 aalborg@aleris-hamlet.dk Aarhus Brendstrupgårdsvej 21 DK-8200 Aarhus N Tel.: +45 3637 2500 aarhus@aleris-hamlet.dk Esbjerg Bavnehøjvej 2 DK-6700 Esbjerg Tel.: +45 3637 2700 esbjerg@-aleris-hamlet.dk Herning Birk Centerpark 28 DK-7400 Herning Tel.: +45 3637 2600 herning@aleris-hamlet.dk Visit us at: www.aleris-hamlet.dk Copenhagen Gyngemose Parkvej 66 DK-2860 Søborg Tel.: +45 3817 0700 kobenhavn@aleris-hamlet.dk The Secretariat telephones are open: Monday - Thursday 8 am - 6 pm Friday 8 am - 3 pm Saturday - Sunday Closed Aleris-Hamlet Hospitals 7th edition December 2014. Prepared by JLU/KJK/BMI. To be revised in December 2017 Approved by Quality Management