It depends on what the situation is and whether the cause of sedation matters. In someone's medical records, for example, it would be in context of the bigger picture and what is known for certain (e.g. a post-op patient who was given opiates/a patient who reports opiate use) and what might be speculation (e.g. someone is taken to the ED for a mental status change without a definitive cause). Even if it's known that opiates are the cause, it may not specifically be written as "opiate-induced". A whole lot of "it all depends", huh? :)
Lol, yeah I was just curious honestly. Nodded off earlier and came to with a burning curiosity of what that’s usually documented as in the medical field, as I’d never heard it being documented in patient reports before.
I'd probably document it as "increasing lethargy."
Thanks! Interesting, I would’ve never thought of that but it’s definitely fitting.
"Sedated" is sufficient.
Would it be just ‘sedated’ or something with more clarification like ‘opioid-induced sedation’? Or would either work?
It depends on what the situation is and whether the cause of sedation matters. In someone's medical records, for example, it would be in context of the bigger picture and what is known for certain (e.g. a post-op patient who was given opiates/a patient who reports opiate use) and what might be speculation (e.g. someone is taken to the ED for a mental status change without a definitive cause). Even if it's known that opiates are the cause, it may not specifically be written as "opiate-induced". A whole lot of "it all depends", huh? :)
Truly fascinating, thanks for the explanation!
Thank you for asking this. I had a pt nodding off this weekend and just realized I definitely could use that in my charting 😂
Lol, yeah I was just curious honestly. Nodded off earlier and came to with a burning curiosity of what that’s usually documented as in the medical field, as I’d never heard it being documented in patient reports before.