Intranasal diamorphine

Information for patients

Your child has been given a drug called diamorphine. This is because they have sustained an injury which needed stronger pain relief than the normal medicines we give children such as paracetamol and ibuprofen.

The diamorphine medicine has been given through their nose (intranasal).

This is used in place of an injection, but the medicine will start working as quickly and effectively as an injection of diamorphine.

Not all children who have been given intranasal diamorphine will need to stay in hospital. Your child has had this medicine and undergone a period of observation by nursing and medical staff.

Your child will only be allowed home when deemed fit by the nursing and medical staff.

At Home

Make sure you have a supply of normal medicine such as paracetamol or ibuprofen for use at home. Very often, children do not need any stronger treatment than this once a plaster has been applied to a broken bone or the injury has been treated.

Side-effects

It is normal for your child to feel sleepy after having intranasal diamorphine.

Other side effects such as feeling sick, or being sick are very unusual.

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