AEMCA Practice Exam

What are some common signs of acute opioid withdrawal?

1. Weight gain and insomnia

2. Yawning and lacrimation

3. Anxiety and paranoia

4. Blurred vision and headache

The correct answer is: Yawning and lacrimation

Common signs of acute opioid withdrawal include yawning and lacrimation, which are physiological responses that can manifest when the body is adjusting to the absence of opioids. Yawning is often a response to a lack of stimulation due to the sudden decrease in the drug levels in the system, reflecting a state of hyperactivity in the body's nervous system as it tries to regain balance. Lacrimation, or increased tearing, occurs as the body reacts to the withdrawal, indicating changes in the autonomic nervous system as it recalibrates after the cessation of opioid use. This choice correctly highlights specific, observable symptoms of withdrawal, which are common and indicative of the body's challenge in returning to homeostasis after prolonged exposure to opioids. Other options, while they may include emotional or physical symptoms, do not specifically reflect widely recognized signs of acute opioid withdrawal as distinctly as yawning and lacrimation do.