Anonymous
07-01-2004, 10:42 PM
A know opiod abuser comes to the ER with tachycardia, erected arm hairs (goose bumps), dialated pupils. What drug would worsen this pts symptoms?
a. methadone
b. morphine
c. naloxone
d. meperidine
First you must realize that this patient is going through opiod withdrawal and not toxicity (triad of tox is pinpoint pupils, resp depression, coma). The withdrawal includes lacrimation, yawning, sweating, restlessness, goose bumps (cold turkey), tremor, hot and cold flashes, diarrhea, cramps, muscle spasms (kicking the habit). The opiods in this case would probably relieve the withdrawal symptoms, but naloxone (an opiod antagonist) would likely increase the withdrawal symptoms. So I think that is the correct answer.
ref: kaplan pharm pg 81
a. methadone
b. morphine
c. naloxone
d. meperidine
First you must realize that this patient is going through opiod withdrawal and not toxicity (triad of tox is pinpoint pupils, resp depression, coma). The withdrawal includes lacrimation, yawning, sweating, restlessness, goose bumps (cold turkey), tremor, hot and cold flashes, diarrhea, cramps, muscle spasms (kicking the habit). The opiods in this case would probably relieve the withdrawal symptoms, but naloxone (an opiod antagonist) would likely increase the withdrawal symptoms. So I think that is the correct answer.
ref: kaplan pharm pg 81