Naloxone administration may cause nausea and vomiting requiring careful titration.

Naloxone administration may cause nausea and vomiting requiring careful titration.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not applicable
• D. It never causes nausea

Answer: (A)

Naloxone reverses opioid effects by blocking mu receptors, and in people who are dependent on opioids or have high opioid levels, this reversal can abruptly trigger withdrawal symptoms. Nausea and vomiting are common parts of that withdrawal response, so giving naloxone can lead to these symptoms if dosing is too rapid or too high. Because naloxone acts more briefly than many opioids, symptoms can recur as the drug wears off, making careful titration essential to achieve reversal without provoking excessive withdrawal or resedation. Start with small, incremental doses and reassess; if needed, adjust dose or use a continuous infusion to maintain the desired effect without overshooting. Hence, the statement is true.

Naloxone reverses opioid effects by blocking mu receptors, and in people who are dependent on opioids or have high opioid levels, this reversal can abruptly trigger withdrawal symptoms. Nausea and vomiting are common parts of that withdrawal response, so giving naloxone can lead to these symptoms if dosing is too rapid or too high. Because naloxone acts more briefly than many opioids, symptoms can recur as the drug wears off, making careful titration essential to achieve reversal without provoking excessive withdrawal or resedation. Start with small, incremental doses and reassess; if needed, adjust dose or use a continuous infusion to maintain the desired effect without overshooting. Hence, the statement is true.