Vocabulary
- Motrin = Advil = ibuprofen
- Tylenol = acetaminophen
- Roxicodone = liquid narcotic pain medication that does not contain acetaminophen
- Hycet = acetaminophen with hydrocodone (a narcotic pain medicine)
Recommend Pain Medication Schedule:
- During the first 5 days you child should consistently alternate ibuprofen and acetaminophen.
- Give acetaminophen – wait 3 hours – Give ibuprofen – wait 3 hours - Give acetaminophen – wait 3 hours Give ibuprofen – etc...
- If this does not adequately control your child’s pain, you physician may give you a prescription for a narcotic pain medication such as Roxicodone or Hycet.
- Never wake your child up to give a narcotic pain medication. If their pain is controlled sufficiently that they are sleeping, their next does of pain medication can be given after they wake up.
Aspirin
- Never give your child aspirin for 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after any surgical procedure; unless, otherwise specified by your physician.
Ibuprofen Medication Precaution
- Ibuprofen should be given every 6 hours for the first 5 days. If your child is still taking ibuprofen on days 7-10, when the scabs come off, there is a slightly increased chance of bleeding. Therefore, we recommend only taking the ibuprofen as needed for pain after the 5th day. If any bleeding is seen ibuprofen should be discontinued immediately for 2 days.
Narcotic Pain Medication Precautions
- If your child is prescribed Hycet, it contains acetaminophen. If you give your child plain acetaminophen you must wait at least 4 hours before giving Hycet or there is a risk of overdosing your child on acetaminophen.
- Narcotic pain medications may cause nausea and vomiting. To decrease this risk, it is better if given after eating or drinking. If your child continues to have nausea or vomiting use the Zofran prescription provided by your physician.
- Narcotic pain medications and/or Zofran may cause constipation. Encouraging fluid intake is the best thing you can do to limit the potential for constipation.
- If possible, adding fiber to your child’s diet (prunes, apricots, plums, raisins, peas, beans, broccoli, and whole grains) may help to prevent constipation. In more severe cases your primary care physician may recommend or prescribe a mild laxative or enema.
- Never give your child a laxative or other types of stool-softening medications without first consulting with your primary care physician.
- If your child has a history of constipation and has previously been recommended a stool softener by their primary care physician, we recommend restarting this prior to surgery.
- Never wake your child up to give a narcotic pain medication. If their pain is controlled sufficiently that they are sleeping, their next dose of pain medication can be given after they wake up.
Narcotic Disposal
It is very important to safely dispose of narcotic or opioid pain medications that are left over when your child has recovered after surgery. The FDA recommends 2 options for disposal of the types of narcotic pain medications your child may be prescribed:
1. The best disposal option is to find a “drug take back location” – this FDA site can help you to locate the site closest to your home: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/disposal-unused-medicines-what-you-should-know/drug-disposal-drug-take-back-locations
2. Narcotic pain medications that your child may be prescribed are Roxicodone, oxycodone, or hydrocodone. All these medications are on the FDA “flush list”. It is safe to flush any of these medications down the toilet.