Discharge education should include adverse effects of opioid pain medications, including constipation, vomiting, and which other adverse effect?

Discharge education should include adverse effects of opioid pain medications, including constipation, vomiting, and which other adverse effect?

• A. respiratory depression
• B. hypotension
• C. hypertension
• D. diarrhea

Answer: (A)

Opioid pain medications slow the respiratory center in the brain, which can lead to dangerous breathing problems. This is the adverse effect that must be emphasized in discharge education because it can progress rapidly and become life-threatening if not recognized and addressed promptly. Patients and caregivers should be taught to monitor for signs such as slowed, shallow, or difficult breathing, excessive sedation, or inability to stay awake. They should understand when to seek urgent help and to avoid taking other sedatives, alcohol, or higher-than-prescribed doses that can worsen respiratory depression. Constipation and vomiting are common opioid side effects and important to address for comfort and adherence, but they do not pose the immediate life-threatening risk that respiratory depression does. Diarrhea is not a typical opioid effect, and blood pressure changes (hypotension or hypertension) are less central to the safety message compared with respiratory effects.

Opioid pain medications slow the respiratory center in the brain, which can lead to dangerous breathing problems. This is the adverse effect that must be emphasized in discharge education because it can progress rapidly and become life-threatening if not recognized and addressed promptly. Patients and caregivers should be taught to monitor for signs such as slowed, shallow, or difficult breathing, excessive sedation, or inability to stay awake. They should understand when to seek urgent help and to avoid taking other sedatives, alcohol, or higher-than-prescribed doses that can worsen respiratory depression.

Constipation and vomiting are common opioid side effects and important to address for comfort and adherence, but they do not pose the immediate life-threatening risk that respiratory depression does. Diarrhea is not a typical opioid effect, and blood pressure changes (hypotension or hypertension) are less central to the safety message compared with respiratory effects.