Which is a common gastrointestinal side effect of opioids?

Prepare for your Fear Free In-hospital Protocols exam. Use flashcards and multiple-choice questions to enhance your understanding of sedation, anesthesia, and analgesia. Get ready for success!

Multiple Choice

Which is a common gastrointestinal side effect of opioids?

Explanation:
Opioids commonly trigger nausea and vomiting because they activate receptors in the brain’s chemoreceptor trigger zone and can affect vestibular pathways, especially with initial dosing or dose changes. They also slow gastrointestinal motility, which often leads to constipation, another well-known opioid effect. Diarrhea and heartburn are not typical opioid-induced GI effects, and weight gain isn’t a direct GI side effect of opioid analgesia. So nausea and/or vomiting best fits the common gastrointestinal response to opioids.

Opioids commonly trigger nausea and vomiting because they activate receptors in the brain’s chemoreceptor trigger zone and can affect vestibular pathways, especially with initial dosing or dose changes. They also slow gastrointestinal motility, which often leads to constipation, another well-known opioid effect. Diarrhea and heartburn are not typical opioid-induced GI effects, and weight gain isn’t a direct GI side effect of opioid analgesia. So nausea and/or vomiting best fits the common gastrointestinal response to opioids.

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