Practice Question
A nurse is teaching a client who has opioid use disorder about methadone. Which of the following information should the nurse include in the teaching?
Answer Choices:
Correct Answer:
"Sedation is a common adverse effect of this medication."
Rationale:
🟣 Methadone is a long-acting opioid agonist used in medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder.
🟣 As an opioid, it commonly causes sedation, especially early in treatment or after dose changes.
🟣 Clients should be taught to avoid driving or operating heavy machinery until they know how methadone affects them.
🟣 Other opioid effects such as respiratory depression, constipation, and potential QT prolongation should also be monitored.
🟣 Therefore, stating that sedation is a common adverse effect is accurate and important teaching.
“If you suspect you are pregnant, stop taking this medication."
🟣 Stopping methadone abruptly during pregnancy can cause withdrawal, which may be harmful to both the birthing parent and fetus.
🟣 Methadone is actually commonly used as standard of care for opioid use disorder in pregnancy, under careful supervision.
🟣 Instead of stopping, the client should notify their provider so treatment can be adjusted and monitored safely.
🟣 Sudden cessation can increase the risk of relapse, overdose, and fetal distress.
🟣 Thus, this instruction is unsafe and incorrect.
"You cannot become physically dependent on this medication."
🟣 Methadone is an opioid, and clients can become physically dependent on it.
🟣 The goal of methadone treatment is harm reduction and stabilization, not elimination of physical dependence.
🟣 Dependence is managed through controlled dosing under a structured program, reducing risks associated with illicit opioid use.
🟣 Misleading clients to believe they cannot become dependent undermines informed consent and trust.
🟣 Therefore, this statement is false and should not be part of patient teaching.
"If you forget a dose, you can double your next dose."
🟣 Doubling the next methadone dose greatly increases the risk of overdose and respiratory depression.
🟣 Methadone has a long half-life, and doses are carefully titrated to avoid toxicity.
🟣 The client should be instructed to contact the clinic or provider if they miss a dose, rather than self-adjust dosing.
🟣 Safe opioid management never involves “doubling up” missed doses.
🟣 Thus, this statement is dangerous and incorrect.
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This question is from RN ATI VATI comprehensive practice 2025 which contains 120 questions.
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Question Details
- Category: RN Nursing Exam(s)
- Subcategory: ATI EXIT Exam(s)
- Domain: RN ATI Comprehensive Predictor Exam(s)~2025
- Answer Choices: 4