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Assessment of Morphine-induced Hyperalgesia and Analgesic Tolerance in Mice Using Thermal and Mechanical Nociceptive Modalities
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Opioids for chronic pain: molecular and genomic basis of actions and adverse effects

Sam H Ahmedzai1, Jason Boland

  • 1Academic Unit of Supportive Care, Section of Oncology, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Sheffield, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, UK. s.ahmedzai@sheffield.ac.uk

Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care
|August 8, 2008
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Recent advances clarify how opioid analgesics work and cause harm. Understanding their biological basis and genetic influences will improve pain management and patient safety for therapeutic opioid use.

Area of Science:

  • Pharmacology
  • Neuroscience
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Opioid analgesics are widely used for pain management in cancer and non-cancer patients.
  • The biological mechanisms underlying opioid action and adverse effects are increasingly being elucidated.
  • A deeper understanding is crucial for safe and rational therapeutic opioid use.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent advances in understanding the biological basis of opioid analgesics.
  • To explore how these advances can improve the selection and safety of opioid medications.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent findings in pain physiology.
  • Advances in molecular biology of neurotransmission.
  • In-vivo neuroimaging studies.
  • Research on genomic influences on drug receptors and metabolism.

Main Results:

  • New insights into the mechanisms of opioid action and their differences.
  • Clarification of how opioids can cause harm.
  • Identification of genomic factors influencing opioid response and metabolism.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding the biological basis of opioid effects and adverse events aids in selecting appropriate drugs for specific patient populations.
  • Individual genetic variations in opioid receptors and metabolism pathways offer potential for personalized and safer opioid therapy.

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