Construction of a nomogram to facilitate the calculation of equianalgesic doses for opioid rotation

Abstract:

In order to make easier the process of dose calculation and to minimize dosage errors, a nomogram was developed, based on current recommendations for opioid dose calculation tools. Using Microsoft Excel 2013, a nomogram was created consisting of 18 parallel lines; some of them marked at 24 equidistant points as a minimum and most of them marked at 87 equidistant points as a maximum, resembling a ruler. The last mark of each line corresponds to the maximum recommended dose for each drug product or the dose equivalent. The nomogram developed for this document enables the equianalgesic dose calculation, at the same time that decreases the risk of making mathematical mistakes. Opioid rotation is an essential medical intervention when looking for efficacy and safety of opioid analgesics in clinical practice. Equianalgesic dose calculation is a complicated process with a high probability of error. The nomogram here described is a new tool able to reduce the complexity of calculation and to decrease the risk for the patient in terms of safety as well taking into account the available scientific evidence and following the measures recommended in the literature.

Año de publicación:

2016

Keywords:

• Rotation
• Opioid
• Nomogram
• Equianalgesic
• Doses

Fuente:

scopus