opioid therapy - Adjunctive therapy and symptomatic treatment

Question 1

what can you use to control diarrhoea

Answer 1

loperamide

Question 2

what can you use to control stomach cramps

Answer 2

mebeverine

Question 3

what can you use for muscular pains and headaches

Answer 3

paracetamol and NSAIDs

Question 4

which 2 antiemetics may be useful for n+v

Answer 4

metoclopramide
prochlorperazine

Question 5

these can be helpful for relieving muscle pain associated with methadone withdrawal

Answer 5

Topical rubefaicents e.g. Deep Heat, Movelat
They produce a warm, reddening effect on your skin when you rub them in, due to increased blood flow

Question 6

if a patient is suffering from insomnia, the following may be prescribed, however there is potential for abuse so …

Answer 6

short-acting benzodiazepines (hypnotics: lormetazepam, temazepam, loprazolam) or zopiclone may be prescribed, but because of the potential for abuse, prescriptions should be limited to a short course of a few days only

Question 7

name 3 short acting benzodiazepines hypnotics

Answer 7

Loprazolam, lormetazepam, and temazepam

Question 8

if anxiety or agitation is severe, what should you do

Answer 8

specialist advice should be sought.

Question 9

this drug can alleviate some of the physical symptoms of opioid withdrawal by attenuating the increase in adrenergic NT that occurs during opioid withdrawal

Answer 9

Lofexidine hydrochloride

Lofexidine stimulates alpha-2 adrenergic receptors in the brain. This action reduces the release of norepinephrine, a neurotransmitter involved in the stress response, which is typically elevated during opioid withdrawal.

Question 10

this drug can be prescribed as adjuvant to opioid substitution therapy, and can be initiated either at the same time as opioid substitute or during withdrawal of it

Answer 10

Lofexidine hydrochloride

Question 11

this drug can be prescribed instead of opioid substitute in pt who have mild or uncertain dependence (including young people), and those with short history of illicit drug use

Answer 11

Lofexidine hydrochloride

Question 12

pt dependent on opioids can be given a supply of this drug to be used in cases of accidental overdose

Answer 12

naloxone

Question 13

this drug is used to prevent relapse in formerly opioid dependent patients, and in formerly alcohol dependent patients. it precipitates withdrawal symptoms in opioid dependent subjects

Answer 13

naltrexone - opioid receptor antagonist

Question 14

because the effects of opioid receptor agonists are blocked by this drug, it is prescribed as an aid to prevent relapse in formerly opioid dependent patients

Answer 14

naltrexone
naltrexone helps prevent relapse by blocking the rewarding effects of opioids and alcohol, reducing the desire and motivation to use these substances

Question 15

this drug is used for immediate overdose reversal, while this drug is used for long-term relapse prevention in opioid and alcohol dependence.

Answer 15

naloxone is used for immediate overdose reversal,

while naltrexone is used for long-term relapse prevention in opioid and alcohol dependence.

Question 16

Naloxone and naltrexone are both opioid antagonists used to combat opioid addiction and overdose, but they differ in their applications and effects:

Answer 16

nalaxone: Emergency treatment of opioid overdose. Rapidly reverses the effects of opioids by displacing them from opioid receptors in the brain. Acts quickly, within minutes, but has a short duration of action

naltrexone: Long-term management of opioid dependence and alcohol dependence.Blocks the euphoric and sedative effects of opioids by binding to opioid receptors without activating them.Takes effect within an hour, with a longer duration of action, lasting up to 24-72 hours for oral forms, and longer for injectables.