intravenous opiate therapy
Last reviewed 01/2018
Opiates have several beneficial effects in acute heart failure:
- sedation:
- eases the patients distress
- reduces sympathetic activity
- reduces left ventricular end diastolic pressure
- may be a weak diuretic
Doses are given over 3-5 minutes:
- diamorphine 5 mg iv or morphine 10 mg iv
Patients with liver or lung disease should be given opiates cautiously.