What are common side effects of opioids that nurses should monitor?

Monitoring patients for side effects of opioids is crucial due to the medications' strong impact on the central nervous system and other bodily systems. Opioids commonly cause constipation, which occurs because these medications slow down gastrointestinal motility. Sedation is another prevalent side effect, resulting from opioids' depressant effects on the brain, making patients drowsy or lethargic. Nausea may also manifest as the body adjusts to the medication. Perhaps most critically, respiratory depression is a serious concern, as opioids can depress the respiratory drive, leading to potentially life-threatening situations.

The other options do mention side effects that can occur with various medications or conditions, but they are not specific to opioids. For instance, headache and dizziness may be more associated with other types of medications, weight gain and insomnia are not typical effects of opioids, and rash and itching are generally linked to allergic reactions or other drug classes rather than a direct consequence of opioid use. Therefore, the combination of constipation, sedation, nausea, and respiratory depression encompasses the primary and significant side effects that warrant close monitoring in patients receiving opioid therapy.