Opioids: naloxone: practice question

A Anaesthesia question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Anaesthesia · Opioids: naloxone

Sample item

Naloxone reverses opioid respiratory depression, but the patient may become drowsy again after an hour. Why?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

C. Naloxone has a shorter duration than most opioids, so re-narcotisation occurs

Naloxone lasts 30 to 60 minutes, which is shorter than morphine or long-acting opioids, so repeat doses or an infusion are needed. It is a pure competitive antagonist.

Option by option

  • A. Naloxone is a partial agonist

    Naloxone is a pure antagonist, not a partial agonist.

  • B. Opioid receptors are upregulated

    Receptor upregulation is not the cause.

  • C. Naloxone has a shorter duration than most opioids, so re-narcotisation occurs (correct)

    Correct. Its short duration allows opioid effects to return.

  • D. Naloxone causes sedation

    Naloxone does not cause sedation.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More Anaesthesia questions

Questions about this Anaesthesia question

What is the answer to this Anaesthesia question?

The best answer is C, Naloxone has a shorter duration than most opioids, so re-narcotisation occurs. Naloxone lasts 30 to 60 minutes, which is shorter than morphine or long-acting opioids, so repeat doses or an infusion are needed.

Why is "Naloxone is a partial agonist" not the answer?

Naloxone is a pure antagonist, not a partial agonist.

Why is "Opioid receptors are upregulated" not the answer?

Receptor upregulation is not the cause.

Why is "Naloxone causes sedation" not the answer?

Naloxone does not cause sedation.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Opioids: naloxone in Anaesthesia. It is a pure competitive antagonist.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Opioids: naloxone?

Make a table of each agent, its key advantage and its main side effect. Then use the flashcards and the other Anaesthesia questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.