A nurse is caring for a patient with a prn order for narcotic, opioid pain medication. The nurse utilizes a pain assessment scale and determines the patient would benefit from the administration of the drug. After administration, which of these should the nurse assess for as an unintended side effect of this class of medication?

Narcotic, opioid pain medications are indicated for moderate to severe pain. Common side effects of this class of drugs include constipation, sedation, nausea, dizziness, and pruritus. More severe side effects include respiratory depression and arrest, hepatic damage, anaphylactic reaction, circulatory collapse, and cardiac arrest. Indigestion is a common side effect of non-opioid analgesics in the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) class of medications. Dry mouth can occur with the use of centrally acting non-opioid analgesics, such as clonidine. Diarrhea is typically not a side effect of either opioid or non-opioid analgesics.