Opioids
- 31 December 2006
- book chapter
- review article
- Published by Springer Science and Business Media LLC in Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology
- No. 177,p. 31-63
- https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-33823-9_2
Abstract
Opioids are the most effective and widely used drugs in the treatment of severe pain. They act through G protein-coupled receptors. Four families of endogenous ligands (opioid peptides) are known. The standard exogenous opioid analgesic is morphine. Opioid agonists can activate central and peripheral opioid receptors. Three classes of opioid receptors (μ, δ, κ) have been identified. Multiple pathways of opioid receptor signaling (e.g., Gi/o coupling, cAMP inhibition, Ca++ channel inhibition) have been described. The differential regulation of effectors, preclinical pharmacology, clinical applications, and side effects will be reviewed in this chapter.Keywords
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