Am J Psychiatry 1985; 142:939-942
Copyright © 1985 by American Psychiatric Association
Problems with orders for medication as needed
FJ Ayd Jr
The safety of an order for medication as needed depends on assumptions and
knowledge that may or may not accompany that order. Physicians should
consider carefully the need for prescribing potent medications on an
as-needed basis for newly admitted patients, particularly if these patients
have not been examined, their histories are unknown, and no diagnosis has
been established. In addition, the language of such orders should leave as
little as possible to chance. Interpretation of orders should not be left
to the discretion of staff members who may be inexperienced in the
administration of medications that require frequent monitoring and astute
interpretation of side effects.
