NAPLEX (North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination) Practice Exam

What is the potent opioid that requires caution because of its high risk for overdose?

1. Methadone

2. Hydromorphone

3. Morphine

4. Fentanyl

The correct answer is: Hydromorphone

Hydromorphone is an opioid pain medication that is considered to be highly potent and carries a high risk for overdose. This is because it is almost 5-10 times more potent than other opioid drugs such as morphine or oxycodone. Methadone, while also a potent opioid, is typically used in opioid addiction treatment rather than for pain management. Morphine is a strong opioid medication, but it is not considered as potent as hydromorphone or fentanyl. Fentanyl, while also highly potent, is often used in small doses for acute pain management and typically requires specialized administration techniques, making it less likely to cause overdose when used correctly. Therefore, hydromorphone is the opioid that requires caution due to its high potency and risk for overdose.