Which respiratory pattern is typical in opioid overdose?

• A. Tachypnea
• B. Bradypnea
• C. Hyperventilation
• D. Apneustic respirations

Answer: (B)

Opioids depress the brain’s respiratory drive, causing breathing to slow down. This central nervous system effect leads to a reduced respiratory rate with shallow breaths, known as bradypnea. In overdose, the body doesn’t respond adequately to rising CO2, so breathing becomes markedly slower and less effective at oxygen exchange, which is why bradypnea is the typical pattern.

Tachypnea would be rapid breathing, which you’d expect if a person was anxious, in pain, or experiencing metabolic acidosis, not from opioid-induced depression. Hyperventilation involves fast breathing as well, but with blowing off CO2, which again isn’t the typical response to opioid overdose. Apneustic respirations—a prolonged inspiration with a pause—signals brainstem injury and is not characteristic of opioid overdose.