Title: Analgesic & Sedative Dosing in the Critically Ill Obese Patient<br/>Author: Mike Winters<br/><a href='http://umem.org/profiles/faculty/141/'>[Click to email author]</a><hr/><p>
<strong><u>Analgesics & Sedatives in the Critically Ill Obese Patient</u></strong></p>
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Analgesic and sedative medications are frequently administered to critically ill patients.</li>
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Weight-based dosing regimens for these medications can lead to significant over-, or under-, dosing in the critically ill obese patient (BMI > 40 kg/m<sup>2</sup>).</li>
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In order to avoid harm, it is important to know when to use actual body weight (ABW), ideal body weight (IBW), or adjusted body weight in weight-based dosing regimens.</li>
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Recommendations for weight-based dosing regimens for commonly used analgesic and sedative medications include:
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Opioids: use IBW or adjusted body weight</li>
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Ketamine: use IBW or adjusted body weight</li>
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Propofol: use IBW or adjusted body weight</li>
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Etomidate: use adjusted body weight or ABW</li>
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Midazolam: use IBW or adjusted body weight</li>
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<fieldset><legend>References</legend>
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Erstad BL, Barletta JF. Drug dosing in the critically ill obese patient - a focus on sedation, analgesia, and delirium. <em>Crit Care</em>. 2020; 24:315.</p>
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