Opioids can cause which GI effects?

Opioids can cause which GI effects?

• A. Spasm of GI smooth muscles leading to constipation, biliary colic, delayed gastric emptying
• B. Speed up gastric emptying
• C. Increase biliary pressure to reduce cholelithiasis
• D. Do not cause nausea or vomiting

Answer: (A)

Opioids slow GI function by activating mu receptors in the enteric nervous system, which reduces propulsive motility and motion coordination while increasing sphincter tone. This combination leads to constipation from increased water absorption and slower transit through the colon. They also relax gastric motility differently, but overall delay gastric emptying due to reduced antral contractions and coordination. In the biliary system, opioids cause smooth muscle spasm, including the sphincter of Oddi, raising biliary pressure and potentially causing biliary colic. These effects collectively describe constipation, biliary colic, and delayed gastric emptying. They do not speed up gastric emptying; they do not increase biliary pressure to reduce gallstones; and they can cause nausea or vomiting, so those statements are not accurate.

Opioids slow GI function by activating mu receptors in the enteric nervous system, which reduces propulsive motility and motion coordination while increasing sphincter tone. This combination leads to constipation from increased water absorption and slower transit through the colon. They also relax gastric motility differently, but overall delay gastric emptying due to reduced antral contractions and coordination. In the biliary system, opioids cause smooth muscle spasm, including the sphincter of Oddi, raising biliary pressure and potentially causing biliary colic. These effects collectively describe constipation, biliary colic, and delayed gastric emptying.

They do not speed up gastric emptying; they do not increase biliary pressure to reduce gallstones; and they can cause nausea or vomiting, so those statements are not accurate.