A 20-year-old man is brought to the emergency department (ED) by his family for evaluation. His family reports that he failed out of school in his second year at a local community college. He admits to escalating struggles with prescription pain pills (prescription opioids), and then heroin use. He appears to be in opioid withdrawal; he describes anorexia and diarrhea, and is yawning and sweating on exam. He has a Clinical Opioid Withdrawal Scale (COWS) score of 15, indicating moderate withdrawal. His provider orders clonidine, ondansetron, and 2/0.5 mg sublingual buprenorphine/naloxone, with a plan to observe him in the ED. The provider subsequently receives a concerned call from the hospital pharmacist.
Question:
The Pharmacist States That the Provider is Unable to Administer Buprenorphine in the ED Without an X-Waivered DEA Number. Is This Accurate?
A 20-year-old man is brought to the emergency department (ED) by his family for evaluation. His family reports that he failed out of school in his second year at a local community college. He admits to escalating struggles with prescription pain pills (prescription opioids), and then heroin use. He appears to be in opioid withdrawal; he describes anorexia and diarrhea, and is yawning and sweating on exam. He has a Clinical Opioid Withdrawal Scale (COWS) score of 15, indicating moderate withdrawal. His provider orders clonidine, ondansetron, and 2/0.5 mg sublingual buprenorphine/naloxone, with a plan to observe him in the ED. The provider subsequently receives a concerned call from the hospital pharmacist. Question: The Pharmacist States That the Provider is Unable to Administer Buprenorphine in the ED Without an X-Waivered DEA Number. Is This Accurate?
A 20-year-old man is brought to the emergency department (ED) by his family for evaluation. His family reports that he failed out of school in his second year at a local community college. He admits to escalating struggles with prescription pain pills (prescription opioids), and then heroin use. He appears to be in opioid withdrawal; he describes anorexia and diarrhea, and is yawning and sweating on exam. He has a Clinical Opioid Withdrawal Scale (COWS) score of 15, indicating moderate withdrawal. His provider orders clonidine, ondansetron, and 2/0.5 mg sublingual buprenorphine/naloxone, with a plan to observe him in the ED. The provider subsequently receives a concerned call from the hospital pharmacist. Question: The Pharmacist States That the Provider is Unable to Administer Buprenorphine in the ED Without an X-Waivered DEA Number. Is This Accurate?