What is a potential adverse effect of naloxone?

What is a potential adverse effect of naloxone?

• A. Opioid withdrawal symptoms.
• B. Sedation.
• C. Hypertension.
• D. Nausea.

Answer: (A)

Naloxone blocks opioid receptors to rapidly reverse opioid overdose, but in people who are physically dependent on opioids, this abrupt reversal can trigger withdrawal. That sudden withdrawal is a potential adverse effect, with symptoms such as agitation, tachycardia, hypertension, sweating, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and muscle aches. While naloxone can also unmask or briefly worsen other withdrawal-related signs like nausea or high blood pressure, the most notable and expected adverse effect to anticipate is opioid withdrawal. Sedation is not an adverse effect here because naloxone reverses opioid-induced sedation, not causes it.

Naloxone blocks opioid receptors to rapidly reverse opioid overdose, but in people who are physically dependent on opioids, this abrupt reversal can trigger withdrawal. That sudden withdrawal is a potential adverse effect, with symptoms such as agitation, tachycardia, hypertension, sweating, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and muscle aches. While naloxone can also unmask or briefly worsen other withdrawal-related signs like nausea or high blood pressure, the most notable and expected adverse effect to anticipate is opioid withdrawal. Sedation is not an adverse effect here because naloxone reverses opioid-induced sedation, not causes it.