Substance use: opioid substitution: practice question

A Psychiatry 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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Psychiatry · Substance use: opioid substitution

Sample item

Which drug is a partial mu agonist used for opioid substitution, with a ceiling effect on respiratory depression?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Buprenorphine

Buprenorphine is a partial agonist at mu receptors (and antagonist at kappa) with a lower overdose risk than full agonists. It can precipitate withdrawal if given to someone with high levels of full agonist, and it is combined with naloxone in sublingual tablets to deter injection.

Option by option

  • A. Naloxone

    Naloxone is an antagonist.

  • B. Morphine

    Morphine is a full agonist.

  • C. Buprenorphine (correct)

    Correct. Buprenorphine is the partial agonist.

  • D. Methadone

    Methadone is a full agonist.

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 Psychiatry questions

Questions about this Psychiatry question

What is the answer to this Psychiatry question?

The best answer is C, Buprenorphine. Buprenorphine is a partial agonist at mu receptors (and antagonist at kappa) with a lower overdose risk than full agonists.

Why is "Naloxone" not the answer?

Naloxone is an antagonist.

Why is "Morphine" not the answer?

Morphine is a full agonist.

Why is "Methadone" not the answer?

Methadone is a full agonist.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Substance use: opioid substitution in Psychiatry. It can precipitate withdrawal if given to someone with high levels of full agonist, and it is combined with naloxone in sublingual tablets to deter injection.

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 Substance use: opioid substitution?

Learn each diagnosis by its core features and its first-line treatment. Then use the flashcards and the other Psychiatry 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.