Which of the following is a common side effect of opioids?

Nausea and vomiting are indeed common side effects of opioids. When opioids bind to receptors in the brain to relieve pain, they can also activate the area of the brain responsible for regulating nausea and vomiting. This is a well-documented reaction and is one of the reasons why patients taking opioid medication often experience gastrointestinal disturbances. The central nervous system effects of opioids can lead to decreased gut motility, which can contribute to nausea and vomiting.

In contrast, increased blood pressure is not typically associated with opioids; rather, they may cause blood pressure to decrease due to vasodilation. Excessive blood clotting is also not a common side effect linked to opioid use and does not result from their mechanism of action. Lastly, increased heart rate is not generally a characteristic side effect of opioids; in fact, they often lead to a decrease in heart rate. Therefore, the prominence of nausea and vomiting among these side effects highlights the need for monitoring and management when patients are prescribed opioid medications.