Question

A patient in pain mentions a history of allergy to aspirin. Which drugs might the health care team avoid for this patient? Select all that apply.

Option 1: Fentanyl
Option 2: Morphine
Option 3: Naproxen
Option 4: Ibuprofen
Option 5: Oxycodone

Answer 1

For a patient allergic to aspirin, it is crucial to avoid NSAIDs like naproxen and ibuprofen due to their similar mechanism of action. Opioids like fentanyl, morphine, and oxycodone are safe alternatives as they work differently, by binding to brain receptors instead of inhibiting COX enzymes.

Step-by-step explanation:

Understanding Pain Relievers and Allergies

When a patient has an allergy to aspirin, it is important to avoid other drugs that work similarly. Aspirin belongs to a class of drugs called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which also include naproxen and ibuprofen. These medications should be avoided because they work by inhibiting the cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes, much like aspirin, potentially triggering an allergic reaction.

On the other hand, opioids like fentanyl, morphine, and oxycodone are a different class of medications. They are potent pain relievers that work by binding to opioid receptors in the brain, not by inhibiting COX enzymes. Hence, they do not have the same allergic risk as NSAIDs for an aspirin-allergic patient.