Opioid adverse effects

PTCB PTCE
Medications
Select all that apply
Difficulty 3 of 5

Question

Which effects should a pharmacy technician recognize as possible opioid adverse effects when routing client concerns to the pharmacist? Select all that apply.

Constipation✓ Correct

Constipation is a common opioid side effect.
Nausea✓ Correct

Nausea is a common opioid side effect.
Respiratory depression✓ Correct

Opioids can depress respiration.
Increased breathing rate in every client✗ Incorrect

Opioids can depress respiration, so an increased breathing rate should not be assumed.
Absence of nausea in every client✗ Incorrect

Nausea can occur with opioids.

Answer

A. Constipation · B. Nausea · C. Respiratory depression

Rationale

An opioid may slow respiration and can also cause nausea or constipation. The technician should route reported medication concerns to the pharmacist.

RememberOpioids can cause respiratory depression, constipation and nausea.

Sources

Sources marked “Adapted from” are licensed under CC BY 4.0. We changed the material: its facts are rewritten into an original question, answer options and rationale. The original authors and publishers do not endorse SwipeExam.

Adapted from Open RN Nursing Pharmacology, 2nd edition: Chapter 10 Analgesics & Musculoskeletal System Open RN (Chippewa Valley Technical College) · License: CC BY 4.0 · Retrieved November 2, 2026 · Implementation › Managing Side Effects · 2nd edition, 2023
MORPHINE SULFATE (morphine sulfate) oral prescribing information, SpecGx LLC U.S. Food and Drug Administration (openFDA) · License: CC0 1.0 · Retrieved November 2, 2026 · Adverse reactions · effective_time 20260827

Last verified: November 5, 2026 3 independent automated checks Question ptcb-m-00184, version 1

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