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Table 1 Range of analgesics provided to patients after the surgery

From: Patient-directed self-management of pain (PaDSMaP) compared to treatment as usual following total knee replacement; a randomised controlled trial

Analgesic

Usual dose

Notes

Paracetamol

1 g four times a day

NERP

Ibuprofen

400 mg three times a day

NERP If patient is able to tolerate

Gabapentin

300 mg twice a day

NERP

Oxycodone

10-20 mg twice a day

NERP doses (Daily EOMD 20–40). Controlled drug so must be delivered by nurse.

Oxycodone

2.5-10 mg as required

Non-NERP doses. Controlled drug so must be delivered by nurse.

Oramorph (liquid morphine sulphate)

5-20 mg as required up to every 2 h

NERP (Daily EOMD 5–240). For breakthrough pain.

Zomorph (morphine sulphate capsules)

10-20 mg twice a day

(Daily EOMD 20–40)

Codeine

30-60 mg four times a day or as required

(Daily EOMD 18–36)

Dihydrocodeine

30-60 mg four times a day or as required

(Daily EOMD 12–24)

Co-codamol

8/500, 1–2 tablets, once a day or as required 30/500, 2 tablets, four times a day or as required

(Daily EOMD 1.2–2.4) (Daily EOMD 36)

Co-dydramol

10/500, 2 tablets, four times a day

(Daily EOMD 8)

Tramadol

50-100 mg four times a day or as required

(Daily EOMD 20–40)

Aspirin

75 mg once a day

Given as an anticoagulant

Intramuscular morphine

5-10 mg as required

NERP (Daily EOMD 5–10). For escape analgesia. Not part of the self-medicating protocol as delivered by injection.

Intravenous morphine

5-50 mg as required

(Daily EOMD 5–50) Not part of the self-medicating protocol as delivered by injection.

Ropivicaine

0.2% 140-200 ml

Not part of the self-medicating protocol as delivered by periarticular injection.

  1. Bold text rows indicate the medications and dosages recommended for use by the NERP protocol
  2. Abbreviations: NERP Norwich Enhanced Recovery Protocol, EOMD Equivalent Oral Morphine Dose