Which drug may cause histamine release?

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Multiple Choice

Which drug may cause histamine release?

Histamine release from mast cells is a known adverse effect of some drugs due to direct degranulation, not an IgE-mediated allergy. Among the agents listed, morphine is the classic opioid that can provoke this mast cell release, leading to flushing, pruritus, and sometimes hypotension. The other drugs shown—an opioid antagonist, a benzodiazepine, and a benzodiazepine receptor antagonist—do not typically cause histamine release as a characteristic effect. Therefore morphine is the choice most associated with histamine release.

Histamine release from mast cells is a known adverse effect of some drugs due to direct degranulation, not an IgE-mediated allergy. Among the agents listed, morphine is the classic opioid that can provoke this mast cell release, leading to flushing, pruritus, and sometimes hypotension. The other drugs shown—an opioid antagonist, a benzodiazepine, and a benzodiazepine receptor antagonist—do not typically cause histamine release as a characteristic effect. Therefore morphine is the choice most associated with histamine release.

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