Chapter 10: Analgesic Drugs

Question 1

A patient is recovering from abdominal surgery, which he had this morning. He is groggy but complaining of severe pain around his incision. What is the most important assessment data to consider before the nurse administers a dose of morphine sulfate to the patient?

Answer 1

His respiratory rate

One of the most serious adverse effects of opioids is respiratory depression. The nurse must assess the patient’s respiratory rate before administering an opioid.

Question 2

A patient will be discharged with a 1-week supply of an opioid analgesic for pain management after abdominal surgery. The nurse will include which information in the teaching plan?

Answer 2

How to prevent constipation

Gastrointestinal (GI) adverse effects, such as nausea, vomiting, and constipation, are the most common adverse effects associated with opioid analgesics

Question 3

Vicodin (acetaminophen/hydrocodone) is prescribed for a patient who has had surgery. The nurse informs the patient that which common adverse effects can occur with this medication?

Answer 3

Constipation (not diarrhea), lightheadedness (not nervousness), urinary retention, and itching are some of the common adverse effects that the patient may experience while taking Vicodin.

Question 4

The drug nalbuphine (Nubain) is an agonist-antagonist (partial agonist). The nurse understands that which is a characteristic of partial agonists?

Answer 4

They have a lower dependency potential than agonists

Partial agonists such as nalbuphine are similar to the opioid agonists in terms of their therapeutic indications; however, they have a lower risk of misuse and addiction

Question 5

The nurse is assessing a patient who has been admitted to the emergency department for a possible opioid overdose. Which assessment finding is characteristic of an opioid drug overdose?

Answer 5

Respiration rate of 6 breaths/min

The most serious adverse effect of opioid use is CNS depression, which may lead to respiratory depression.

Question 6

The nurse is reviewing herbal therapies. Which is a common use of the herb feverfew?

Answer 6

Migraine headaches

Feverfew is commonly used for migraine headaches, menstrual problems, arthritis, and fever.

Question 7

A patient has been treated for lung cancer for 3 years. Over the past few months, the patient has noticed that the opioid analgesic is not helping as much as it had previously and more medication is needed for the same pain relief. The nurse is aware that this patient is experiencing which of these?

Answer 7

Opioid tolerance

Opioid tolerance is a common physiologic result of long-term opioid use. Patients with opioid tolerance require larger doses of the opioid agent to maintain the same level of analgesia.

Question 8

Generic Name:

Buprenorphine

Answer 8

Brand Name:

Buprenex

Question 9

Generic Name:

Butorphanol

Answer 9

Brand Name:

Stadol

Question 10

Generic Name:

Nalbuphine

Answer 10

Brand Name:

Nubain

Question 11

Generic Name:

Pentazocine

Answer 11

Brand Name:

Talwin

Question 12

Generic Name:

Hydromorphone

Answer 12

Brand Name:

Dilaudid

Question 13

Generic Name:

Meperidine

Answer 13

Brand Name:

Demerol

Question 14

Generic Name:

Methadone

Answer 14

Brand Name:

Dolophine

Question 15

Generic Name:

Naloxone

Answer 15

Brand Name:

Narcan

Question 16

Generic Name:

Celexib

Answer 16

Brand Name:

Celebrex

Question 17

Generic Name:

Tramadol

Answer 17

Brand Name:

Ultram

Question 18

Generic Name:

Lidocaine, Transdermal

Answer 18

Brand Name:

Lidoderm