WHICH DRUGS ARE RIGHT FOR YOUR PATIENT: This overview of the three types of analgesics will help you organize these drugs in your mind and make intelligent decisions about their use

Ima, age 72, is hospitalized with a ruptured cyst on her lower back. After the cyst is surgically removed, an abscess forms at the site. The incision is opened, drained, and debrided, then left unsutured and packed.Almaʼs nurses clean and repack the incision every 4 hours. The procedure is very painful for her. Sheʼs receiving 50 mg of meperidine (Demerol), administered intramuscularly 1/2 hour before treatment, but this doesnʼt help. At the suggestion of her nurses, the doctor changes the order to 75 mg of Demerol with 25 mg of hydroxyzine (Vistaril), but this isnʼt enough either. Almaʼs nurses dread cleaning and repacking the incision because sheʼs in so much pain.Clearly, Alma needs a new pain medication. But which one?