Substance use: opioid withdrawal: 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.

Try it

Psychiatry · Substance use: opioid withdrawal

Sample item

A man stopped heroin 24 hours ago. He has yawning, lacrimation, rhinorrhoea, piloerection, dilated pupils, abdominal cramps and muscle aches. Which drug helps to control autonomic symptoms?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Clonidine or lofexidine

Opioid withdrawal is uncomfortable but rarely life-threatening, with mydriasis, yawning, lacrimation and piloerection ('cold turkey'). Alpha-2 agonists reduce noradrenergic hyperactivity, and opioid substitution with methadone or buprenorphine is used for detoxification.

Option by option

  • A. Disulfiram

    Disulfiram is irrelevant.

  • B. Clonidine or lofexidine (correct)

    Correct. Alpha-2 agonists control autonomic symptoms.

  • C. Haloperidol

    Antipsychotics are not appropriate.

  • D. Naloxone

    Naloxone would precipitate worse withdrawal.

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 B, Clonidine or lofexidine. Opioid withdrawal is uncomfortable but rarely life-threatening, with mydriasis, yawning, lacrimation and piloerection ('cold turkey').

Why is "Disulfiram" not the answer?

Disulfiram is irrelevant.

Why is "Haloperidol" not the answer?

Antipsychotics are not appropriate.

Why is "Naloxone" not the answer?

Naloxone would precipitate worse withdrawal.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Substance use: opioid withdrawal in Psychiatry. Alpha-2 agonists reduce noradrenergic hyperactivity, and opioid substitution with methadone or buprenorphine is used for detoxification.

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 withdrawal?

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.