What is a common side effect associated with opioid use?

Opioids are commonly prescribed for pain relief, but they also come with a range of potential side effects. A notable side effect of opioid use is constipation. This occurs because opioids bind to receptors in the gastrointestinal tract, which slows down gut motility and decreases peristalsis, leading to reduced bowel movements. As a result, many individuals using opioids experience difficulty with regular bowel function, making constipation a prevalent issue among patients on these medications.

The other choices, while they may occur in some contexts, are not typical or common side effects associated with opioid use. Increased energy is often not associated with opioids, as they are more likely to cause sedation. A rash can occur but is less common compared to gastrointestinal effects like constipation. Insomnia may happen in some cases, but opioids more often lead to drowsiness rather than insomnia as a common outcome.