Final answer:
During opioid withdrawal, a nurse should expect to see symptoms like diarrhea and dilated pupils, which are opposite to the effects of opioids. Methadone is used to help manage withdrawal symptoms for individuals with opioid addiction.
Step-by-step explanation:
A nurse is assessing a client who is experiencing opioid withdrawal. Among the symptoms that a nurse should expect are diarrhea and dilated pupils. Opioid withdrawal can include a variety of symptoms that are typically opposite to the effects of opioids. Since opioids can cause constipation and miosis (pinpoint pupils), withdrawal often results in diarrhea and dilated pupils. Other symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, sweating, muscle twitching, and dyspnea. Methadone may be prescribed to an individual with heroin addiction because it is a synthetic opioid that helps manage withdrawal symptoms, making the process of cessation more bearable.