LCAS EXAMINATION QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
SURE A+
✔✔Ceiling effect - ✔✔at a certain point, the increasing effects of partial agonists reach
maximum levels and do not increase further, even if doses continue to rise
✔✔true - ✔✔at higher dosages, partial agonists can act like antagonists-occupying
receptors but not activating them, while at the same time displacing or blocking full
agonists from receptors
✔✔Methadone - ✔✔synthetic opioid; only long-acting full agonist approved for opioid
treatment. therapeutically appropriate doses also attenuate or block euphoric effects of
heroin and other opioids
✔✔Buprenorphine - ✔✔derivative of opium alkaloid thebaine; synthetic opioid and
generally described as partial agonist at mu opiate receptor and antagonist at kappa
receptor; greater margin of safety from death by respiratory depression when increased
dosages used; overdose of only this is uncommon, but more likely when combined with
alcohol, benzos, or other sedative-type substances
✔✔Naltrexone (ReVia) - ✔✔highly effective opioid antagonist that tightly binds to mu
opiate receptors; because it has a higher affinity for these receptors than heroin,
morphine, or methadone, this drug displaces those drugs from receptors and blocks
their effects
✔✔Naltrexone (ReVia) - ✔✔this drug has no narcotic effects and therefore no
withdrawal symptoms, abuse potential, nor tolerance for its antagonist properties;
because of higher affinity to mu opiate receptors, this drug can precipitate withdrawal in
pts. who have not been abstinent from short-acting opioids for at least 7 days and have
not been abstinent from long-acting ones, such as methadone, for at least 10 days
✔✔Suboxone - ✔✔buprenorphine/naloxone
, ✔✔Subutex - ✔✔Buprenorphine only
✔✔Methadone - ✔✔this type of MAT treatment typically leads to reduction or cessation
of illicit opioid use and its adverse consequences, including cellulitis, hepatitis, and HIV
infection, as well as criminal behavior associated with obtaining drugs
✔✔Methadone - ✔✔this form of pharmacotherapy has been shown to lead to improved
overall adjustment, including reductions in psychiatric symptoms, unemployment, and
family or social problems
✔✔Buprenorphine - ✔✔research found primary efficacy in clinical trials demonstrated
via patient retention and elimination of illicit-opioid-positive drug tests
✔✔Naltrexone - ✔✔highly effective in preventing relapse when used as directed;
however, most studies have indicated very high dropout rates, especially when pts. had
received methadone treatment before this tx
✔✔false - ✔✔long-term methadone and buprenorphine therapy is associated with many
side effects
✔✔Methadone - ✔✔most common symptoms are constipation and sweating; less
common include insomnia or early awakening and decreased libido or sexual
performance
✔✔Naltrexone (ReVia) - ✔✔approximately 10% of pts. receiving this MAT drug have
gastrointestinal side effects; can also cause anxiety, nervousness, insomnia, headache,
joint or muscle pain, and triredness
✔✔Buprenorphine - ✔✔MAT drug with few serious side effects; most common (like with
other opioid treatment drugs) are constipation, headache, nausea, and vomiting, and
dizziness
✔✔Naltrexone - ✔✔lethargy and somnolence (drowsiness) have been reported when
___________ is used along with Thorazine (chlorpromazine) and Mellaril (thioridazine),
and caution should be taken when combining it with other antipsychotic drugs
✔✔Methadone - ✔✔safety profile is excellent when taken as directed and when pts.
screened for cardiac risk factors; due to full mu opioid agonists, overdose and death can
occur if taken in larger amts than directed and in amounts exceeding pts. tolerance
levels; possibly lethal respiratory depressant effects also can occur if meds are used in
combination with substances that depress CNS, such as alcohol and Benzos
✔✔Buprenorphine - ✔✔generally safe and well tolerated when taken as prescribed;
partial agonist characteristics reduce risk of respiratory depression from overdose; OD
SURE A+
✔✔Ceiling effect - ✔✔at a certain point, the increasing effects of partial agonists reach
maximum levels and do not increase further, even if doses continue to rise
✔✔true - ✔✔at higher dosages, partial agonists can act like antagonists-occupying
receptors but not activating them, while at the same time displacing or blocking full
agonists from receptors
✔✔Methadone - ✔✔synthetic opioid; only long-acting full agonist approved for opioid
treatment. therapeutically appropriate doses also attenuate or block euphoric effects of
heroin and other opioids
✔✔Buprenorphine - ✔✔derivative of opium alkaloid thebaine; synthetic opioid and
generally described as partial agonist at mu opiate receptor and antagonist at kappa
receptor; greater margin of safety from death by respiratory depression when increased
dosages used; overdose of only this is uncommon, but more likely when combined with
alcohol, benzos, or other sedative-type substances
✔✔Naltrexone (ReVia) - ✔✔highly effective opioid antagonist that tightly binds to mu
opiate receptors; because it has a higher affinity for these receptors than heroin,
morphine, or methadone, this drug displaces those drugs from receptors and blocks
their effects
✔✔Naltrexone (ReVia) - ✔✔this drug has no narcotic effects and therefore no
withdrawal symptoms, abuse potential, nor tolerance for its antagonist properties;
because of higher affinity to mu opiate receptors, this drug can precipitate withdrawal in
pts. who have not been abstinent from short-acting opioids for at least 7 days and have
not been abstinent from long-acting ones, such as methadone, for at least 10 days
✔✔Suboxone - ✔✔buprenorphine/naloxone
, ✔✔Subutex - ✔✔Buprenorphine only
✔✔Methadone - ✔✔this type of MAT treatment typically leads to reduction or cessation
of illicit opioid use and its adverse consequences, including cellulitis, hepatitis, and HIV
infection, as well as criminal behavior associated with obtaining drugs
✔✔Methadone - ✔✔this form of pharmacotherapy has been shown to lead to improved
overall adjustment, including reductions in psychiatric symptoms, unemployment, and
family or social problems
✔✔Buprenorphine - ✔✔research found primary efficacy in clinical trials demonstrated
via patient retention and elimination of illicit-opioid-positive drug tests
✔✔Naltrexone - ✔✔highly effective in preventing relapse when used as directed;
however, most studies have indicated very high dropout rates, especially when pts. had
received methadone treatment before this tx
✔✔false - ✔✔long-term methadone and buprenorphine therapy is associated with many
side effects
✔✔Methadone - ✔✔most common symptoms are constipation and sweating; less
common include insomnia or early awakening and decreased libido or sexual
performance
✔✔Naltrexone (ReVia) - ✔✔approximately 10% of pts. receiving this MAT drug have
gastrointestinal side effects; can also cause anxiety, nervousness, insomnia, headache,
joint or muscle pain, and triredness
✔✔Buprenorphine - ✔✔MAT drug with few serious side effects; most common (like with
other opioid treatment drugs) are constipation, headache, nausea, and vomiting, and
dizziness
✔✔Naltrexone - ✔✔lethargy and somnolence (drowsiness) have been reported when
___________ is used along with Thorazine (chlorpromazine) and Mellaril (thioridazine),
and caution should be taken when combining it with other antipsychotic drugs
✔✔Methadone - ✔✔safety profile is excellent when taken as directed and when pts.
screened for cardiac risk factors; due to full mu opioid agonists, overdose and death can
occur if taken in larger amts than directed and in amounts exceeding pts. tolerance
levels; possibly lethal respiratory depressant effects also can occur if meds are used in
combination with substances that depress CNS, such as alcohol and Benzos
✔✔Buprenorphine - ✔✔generally safe and well tolerated when taken as prescribed;
partial agonist characteristics reduce risk of respiratory depression from overdose; OD
