Which extremely potent opioid used for wildlife immobilization is about 10,000 times morphine and is associated with an M-5050 reverser?

Which extremely potent opioid used for wildlife immobilization is about 10,000 times morphine and is associated with an M-5050 reverser?

• A. Carfentanil
• B. Buprenorphine
• C. Etorphine
• D. Methadone

Answer: (C)

This item tests knowledge of ultra-potent opioids used to immobilize wildlife and their reversal agents. Etorphine is a full mu-opioid agonist used to immobilize large wildlife, and its effects are roughly 10,000 times more potent than morphine. Because of the extreme potency and risk of life-threatening respiratory depression, a specific antagonist, diprenorphine, is used to reverse etorphine’s effects; commercially, this reversal agent is sold as M5050. That direct pairing—etorphine with an M5050 reverser—makes it the best answer. Buprenorphine and methadone are much less potent and used mainly for analgesia, not wildlife immobilization with an M5050 reversal. Carfentanil is also extremely potent, but the classic reversal agent associated with wildlife immobilization in common practice is M5050 for etorphine, not carfentanil.

This item tests knowledge of ultra-potent opioids used to immobilize wildlife and their reversal agents. Etorphine is a full mu-opioid agonist used to immobilize large wildlife, and its effects are roughly 10,000 times more potent than morphine. Because of the extreme potency and risk of life-threatening respiratory depression, a specific antagonist, diprenorphine, is used to reverse etorphine’s effects; commercially, this reversal agent is sold as M5050. That direct pairing—etorphine with an M5050 reverser—makes it the best answer. Buprenorphine and methadone are much less potent and used mainly for analgesia, not wildlife immobilization with an M5050 reversal. Carfentanil is also extremely potent, but the classic reversal agent associated with wildlife immobilization in common practice is M5050 for etorphine, not carfentanil.