Final answer:
The signs of opioid withdrawal include irritability and muscle tremors. Methadone is prescribed to alleviate the withdrawal symptoms by reducing cravings without creating addiction. Withdrawal from opioids should be managed under medical supervision due to potential severity of symptoms.
Step-by-step explanation:
The signs and symptoms of withdrawal that a nurse might identify in a postpartum client with a history of opioid abuse include irritability and muscle tremors. Withdrawal symptoms from opioids can resemble a severe flu, such as tremors, pain, insomnia, and psychological withdrawal symptoms like anxiety and depression. These physical and psychological changes occur because the body is adjusting to the absence of the drug it has become dependent on. Methadone, a synthetic opioid, is often prescribed to lessen the difficulty of withdrawal since it is less euphorigenic compared to drugs like heroin. Methadone helps manage the withdrawal symptoms by reducing cravings and easing the transition off opioids.
Physical dependence on psychoactive drugs can produce both physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms upon cessation of drug use. Meanwhile, the process of overcoming addiction to these substances should ideally be managed under medical supervision because of the potential severity of the symptoms.