Pharmacology LPN Practice Exam

Naloxone is used because opioids depress respiration by activating mu receptors, and naloxone acts as a competitive antagonist at those same receptors, rapidly displacing the opioid and reversing the respiratory depression and sedation. The key nursing priority during administration is to monitor breathing and vital signs closely and to titrate naloxone to restore adequate respiration while avoiding overshoot that could cause withdrawal or agitation. Watch blood pressure and heart rate, since naloxone can provoke autonomic changes. Be prepared for re-dosing or an infusion because the opioid’s effects may outlast the antidote, leading to return of respiratory depression or pain. Ensure airway support and have resuscitation equipment ready, and monitor for withdrawal symptoms in opioid-dependent patients, which can include agitation, tachycardia, hypertension, nausea, and vomiting. Other options don’t fit as the acute antidote: activated charcoal doesn’t reverse opioid effects, flumazenil targets benzodiazepines and can trigger seizures, and naltrexone is used for long-term opioid dependence or prevention, not for acute overdose and can affect hepatic function.