A Patient Who Takes Methadone (Dolophine) Daily to Prevent a Relapse

A patient who takes methadone (Dolophine) daily to prevent a relapse of heroin addiction is admitted for knee surgery. To promote effective pain control postoperatively, the nurse will plan to

A) use a mixed opioid agonist-antagonist drug for pain relief.
B) administer opioid analgesics on a regularly scheduled basis.
C) avoid use of opioids and use alternatives such as NSAIDs instead.
D) give prescribed doses of opioid pain medication as needed for pain.