Pain Management Nursing Practice Exam

Which statement accurately describes the action of methadone compared to naloxone in an opioid overdose situation?

1. Naloxone's action lasts longer than methadone.

2. Naloxone is an opioid agonist.

3. Methadone has a longer half-life than naloxone.

4. Naloxone causes withdrawal symptoms in opioid-naïve patients.

The correct answer is: Methadone has a longer half-life than naloxone.

The statement that methadone has a longer half-life than naloxone is correct because it highlights a significant pharmacological difference between the two medications. Methadone is a long-acting opioid, and its half-life can range from 15 to 60 hours or even longer, depending on individual metabolism and other factors. This prolonged half-life makes methadone suitable for various treatments, including pain management and opioid dependency, by providing sustained therapeutic effects. In contrast, naloxone is designed for rapid action in reversing opioid overdoses. Its half-life is relatively short, usually around 30 to 90 minutes, which is important for its use in emergency settings to quickly restore normal respiration in someone who has overdosed on opioids. The brief duration of action means that while naloxone can effectively counteract the effects of opioid overdose, its effects may wear off before the effects of the opioids do, necessitating monitoring and possibly more doses. Recognizing the pharmacokinetics of these two medications is crucial in understanding their roles in opioid overdose scenarios, where rapid intervention is necessary, and awareness of the potential for the return of overdose symptoms after naloxone wears off is vital for patient safety.