http://www.abc27.com/news/local/harrisburg/emts-get-access-to-safer-opioid-alternative/1211020191
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) – Susquehanna Township EMS responds to a handful of medical calls every day.
First responders are often responding to pain related issues, which has become a difficult condition to treat because of the opioid crisis. Now they have a new pain reliever that’s less harmful than opioids.
“What we’re used to using is an opioid, a morphine or fentanyl. What that does is it helps reduce the messages for pain sent to the brain. And what this drug is going to do is actually treat at the site of the pain,” Capt. Daniel Tempel said.
The drug is called ketorolac, also known as Toradol. The state Department of Health recently approved EMS agencies to carry the non-addictive pain drug.
First responders say ketorolac is the better option for responding to certain types of pain; it’s more effective with fewer side effects.
“It gives us the option to provide someone that does have an opioid addiction some type of pain management. It also prevents getting someone started on that opioid,” Tempel said.
EMTs across the state can begin using ketorolac on July 1.
Ketorolac is classified as a NSAID.. .like Aspirin, Aleve, Motrin…BUT… has a VERY LARGE FDA BLACK BOX WARNING attached to this medication… and now they are allowing EMT to administer this medication to people in which they have a very limited medical background and the most they know about the pt is that they are in PAIN. This may end up being a situation where the CURE IS WORSE THAN THE DISEASE.
Filed under: General Problems
Toradol is a diferent medication than Tramadol Sky but its easy to make a mistake when reading. Frankly I think these people are operating out of shear ignorance, Toradol is an anti inflammatory and it may or may not work at the site of pain, this will probably prove fatal in some cases, I hope someone will be smart enough to monitor the effects of this change.
When I read that EMT’s are giving out Tramadol to patients who complain of pain, I nearly hit the floor! They are playing with fire. I wonder who is going to take the blame when something horrible happens? Then again, many people are getting a pass, all because of the fictional “Opioid Epidemic.” SMH, it continues to grow despite of all of the facts that have come to light. What is going to have to happen before the pendulum starts to swing the other way?