DRUG SEEKING BEHAVIOUR

ED, 26 YEAR OLD MALE COMPLAINING OF LOIN PAIN AND

NEEDS PETHIDINE
HISTORY
EXAMINATIONS FINDINGS
INVESTIGATION
MANAGEMENT

Critical Error: if you give pethidine

History:
Loin Pain: - pain questions
First time?
Did you see any doctors before?
What did they say? I don’t actually remember

Can I call your GP and talk about your problem?

Social History
SAD
Depression Questions: appetite, sleep, weight, sexual
activity
Suicidal ideation, self harm

General Health
Allergy Medications

Offer equally good painkiller – tramadol

Ill give you an equally good painkiller like tramadol

We will observe you and see how is the pain?

We need to be very careful with pethidine because it is

very easy to develop addiction. Even 1 or 2 injections
maybe risky.
Pethidine, is a synthetic opioid agonist with very short
effect and side effects like tremor, seizures, renal
damage, gall bladder and pancreas damage. If you take
more in 72 hours, or if you take often it is a good option to
see a specialist
Drug dependent clinic specialist. – consultation maybe
helpful

Did you try pethidine before? When was the last

injection?
How many injections have you had?

You are in pain, I know you are trying to control the pain
with the use of pethidine. How many injections have you
had?