Opioid analgesics

Opioid analgesics are drugs that reduce pain by activating opioid receptors in the nervous system. They include natural compounds such as morphine and synthetic drugs such as fentanyl.

Opioid receptors: Cell-surface receptors that respond to opioid drugs and naturally occurring opioid peptides. These receptors mediate opioid analgesia and many unwanted effects.
Morphine: A naturally occurring opioid drug used to treat moderate to severe pain. It is the reference opioid against which the potency of many analgesics is compared.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug: A drug that reduces pain and inflammation by inhibiting cyclooxygenase enzymes. These drugs treat many painful conditions without activating opioid receptors.
Opioid use disorder: A treatable disorder involving impaired control over opioid use and continued use despite harm. Repeated exposure can lead to this disorder, though prescribed use does not inevitably do so.
Pharmacodynamics: The study of how drugs affect the body, including their targets and effects. Opioid analgesia is a pharmacodynamic effect of receptor activation.
Mu-opioid receptor: An opioid receptor subtype responsible for much opioid pain relief, euphoria, sedation, and respiratory depression. Most clinically used opioid analgesics produce their strongest effects through this receptor.
Fentanyl: A potent synthetic opioid used in anesthesia and for severe pain. Its rapid action and high potency make it useful in monitored care and risky outside it.
Acetaminophen: A widely used analgesic and fever reducer with little peripheral anti-inflammatory activity. It can relieve pain through a nonopioid mechanism and is often combined with opioids.
Opioid dependence: A physiological adaptation in which stopping opioids can cause withdrawal symptoms. Dependence can arise during treatment and is distinct from opioid use disorder.
Pharmacokinetics: The study of how the body absorbs, distributes, metabolizes, and eliminates drugs. These processes help determine how quickly an opioid acts and how long it lasts.

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