Question about "Epimorph"

piedpiper07

Am I calling this the right thing?

At my doctor appt she informed me that my hospital doesn't perform epidurals at all and that they only do "epimorphs." I have been trying to look into it online but can't find much information.

I will admit I am a bit relieved that they don't offer epidurals because I won't be pressured into getting one, and I feel like if an epimorph is what I think it is (a narcotic?) then I feel more opposed to that than the epidural.

Anyone have any idea what it is/ side effects etc? 

Kitttkattt

I'm guessing it's an anesthetic that's normally used in an epidural like ropivicaine, plus a narcotic also administered into the epidural space like morphine.

KrissyMiss

https://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Epimorph

Epidural use -

Adults: Initially 5 mg (Astramorph PF, Duramorph) injected in lumbar region (may relieve pain up to 24 hours). If response isn't adequate within 1 hour, carefully give incremental doses of 1 to 2 mg p.r.n., up to 10 mg/24 hours. For continuous epidural infusion, 2 to 4 mg/24 hours. For epidural injection (DepoDur) before orthopedic leg surgery, recommended dosage is 15 mg; before lower abdominal or pelvic surgery, 10 to 15 mg. For cesarean section after umbilical cord clamping, recommended dosage is 10 mg.

Adults: Usual intrathecal dosage is one-tenth of epidural dosage; 0.2 to 1 mg as a single injection in lumbar area may relieve pain up to 24 hours.

Looking over this site makes me think that it's just another way to administer narcotics. Also, FYI, epidurals often contains narcotics along with an anesthetic. Of course, ask your doctor for more specific information.  

Vegasbb

At the hospitals here, epidurals with morphine are the new thing. I've heard quite a few horror stories of people not being able to feel their legs for 24 hours after having one.. that being said they are "very effective". 

vmanson

 

 It's an epidural with morphine.

I will never have an epimorph ever again if I have another baby. It was the worst experience ever. While on the table getting my csection I got sudden pressure in the back of my head (I felt like someone took a baseball bat to my head) and my heart rate decreased to a pulse of 46. I thought I was dying. I could hear the doctors discussing whether it could be a blood clot or anerysm. It subsided slightly and the rushed my off for a CT scan and it was clear. I couldn't open my eyes for about an hour after surgery because my head hurt so badly and I was sensitive to the light. The next two days my body itched intensely (I was told by the nurse, that was normal). They gave me Benedryl which did nothing to help. A week after surgery my blood pressure went up drastically and I had to take medication to get it under control. I didn't have epimorph with my first child and had no problems.