Question

A woman with breast cancer switched from oral morphine 90 mg every eight hours to morphine 30 mg daily. 36 hours later she has confusion, diaphoresis, and tachycardia. What is the most likely cause of her symptoms?

a) Opioid withdrawal
b) Morphine toxicity
c) Benzodiazepine overdose
d) Anticholinergic toxicity

Answer 1

The symptoms the patient is experiencing are most likely due to opioid withdrawal, as the dosage of morphine she was on has been significantly reduced.

Step-by-step explanation:

The symptoms of confusion, diaphoresis, and tachycardia in a woman who has switched from oral morphine 90 mg every eight hours to morphine 30 mg daily and is experiencing these symptoms 36 hours later are most likely due to opioid withdrawal. Morphine is an opioid analgesic, and a significant reduction in dosage can lead to withdrawal symptoms as the body has become accustomed to a certain level of the drug. Furthermore, withdrawal symptoms can mimic the flu and include a range of physical and psychological effects such as anxiety, depression, and in severe cases, confusion, which the patient is experiencing. Her actual daily dose of morphine has drastically dropped from 270 mg to 30 mg, which is a substantial reduction likely leading her to experience these symptoms.