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Related Concept Videos

Analgesia and Pain Management01:25

Analgesia and Pain Management

Pain is critical to various clinical pathologies, provoking an urgent need for effective management. Pain, whether acute or chronic, is a complex neurochemical process. Its alleviation depends on the type, with nonopioid analgesics effective for mild to moderate pain, such as musculoskeletal or inflammatory pain, while neuropathic pain responds best to anticonvulsants, tricyclic antidepressants, or serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. For severe acute or chronic pain, opioids may be...
Opioid Analgesics: Synthetic and Semisynthetic Opioids01:15

Opioid Analgesics: Synthetic and Semisynthetic Opioids

Synthetic and semisynthetic opioids are pivotal in pain management and tackling opioid addiction. Semisynthetic opioids, including morphinans (morphine derivatives), oxycodone, oxymorphone, hydrocodone, and hydromorphone, have improved pharmacokinetic profiles compared to morphine. Additionally, heroin and 6-MAM (6-Monoacetylmorphine) show better CNS penetration than morphine due to heightened lipid solubility. Hydromorphone, a potent opioid, undergoes hepatic metabolism to form the active...
Opioid Receptors: Overview01:22

Opioid Receptors: Overview

Opioid receptors, including the mu (μ, MOR), delta (δ, DOR), and kappa (κ, KOR) types, belong to the rhodopsin family of G protein-coupled receptors. These receptors are located throughout the central and peripheral nervous systems and in non-neuronal tissues such as macrophages and astrocytes. Opioid receptor ligands can be categorized into agonists or antagonists. Highly selective agonists include [d-Ala2, MePhe4, Gly(ol)5]-enkephalin or DAMGO for MOR, [D-Pen2, D-Pen5]-enkephalin or DPDPE for...
Opioid Analgesics: Morphine and Other Natural Cogeners01:20

Opioid Analgesics: Morphine and Other Natural Cogeners

Opioids are a class of drugs that mimic endogenous opioid peptides and act on opioid receptors, and help in pain relief. These compounds are classified as natural, synthetic, or semi-synthetic. Natural opioids, like morphine, codeine, and thebaine, are derived from the opium poppy plant (Papaver somniferum or Papaver album) and are termed opiates. Synthetic opioids are artificial, while semi-synthetic opioids combine natural and synthetic compounds. Morphine, a prototypical opioid, possesses a...
Nociception01:44

Nociception

Nociception—the ability to feel pain—is essential for an organism’s survival and overall well-being. Noxious stimuli such as piercing pain from a sharp object, heat from an open flame, or contact with corrosive chemicals are first detected by sensory receptors, called nociceptors, located on nerve endings. Nociceptors express ion channels that convert noxious stimuli into electrical signals. When these signals reach the brain via sensory neurons, they are perceived as pain. Thus, pain helps the...
Pain01:20

Pain

Pain serves as a critical warning signal that alerts the body to potential or actual harm. When mechanical pressure on the skin is intense, such as from a sharp pinch, the sensation transitions from touch to pain. Similarly, extreme temperatures, like a hot pot handle, convert the sensation of heat into pain. Pain can also result from overstimulation of other senses, such as blinding light, loud noise, or the intense heat from habañero peppers. This ability to sense pain is essential for...

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Related Experiment Video

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Assessment of Morphine-induced Hyperalgesia and Analgesic Tolerance in Mice Using Thermal and Mechanical Nociceptive Modalities
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Assessment of Morphine-induced Hyperalgesia and Analgesic Tolerance in Mice Using Thermal and Mechanical Nociceptive Modalities

Published on: July 29, 2014

Opioid hyperalgesia.

Kirsty Bannister1, Anthony H Dickenson

  • 1Pharmacology of Pain Group, Department of Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology, UCL, London, UK. kirsty.bannister@ucl.ac.uk

Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care
|December 19, 2009
PubMed
Summary

Opioid-induced hyperalgesia (OIH) remains debated in chronic pain patients. Recent studies suggest OIH is reliably validated only in human volunteers receiving acute morphine, highlighting the need for multidisciplinary pain management.

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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 17, 2026

Assessment of Morphine-induced Hyperalgesia and Analgesic Tolerance in Mice Using Thermal and Mechanical Nociceptive Modalities
07:23

Assessment of Morphine-induced Hyperalgesia and Analgesic Tolerance in Mice Using Thermal and Mechanical Nociceptive Modalities

Published on: July 29, 2014

Assessment of Knee Hyperalgesia in Mice using Pressure Application Measurement
04:22

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Published on: June 13, 2025

Determining heat and mechanical pain threshold in inflamed skin of human subjects
13:21

Determining heat and mechanical pain threshold in inflamed skin of human subjects

Published on: January 14, 2009

Area of Science:

  • Pain Medicine
  • Pharmacology
  • Clinical Research

Background:

  • Opioids are essential for managing moderate-to-severe pain.
  • Prolonged opioid use may paradoxically increase pain sensitivity, a condition known as opioid-induced hyperalgesia (OIH).
  • The clinical reality of OIH in patients is a subject of ongoing scientific debate.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent clinical studies investigating the existence of OIH in patients.
  • To evaluate evidence supporting or refuting OIH in diverse patient populations.
  • To identify factors influencing the development and assessment of OIH.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent clinical trials and studies on chronic opioid treatment.
  • Analysis of studies involving opioid addicts, methadone-maintained patients, and healthy volunteers.
  • Examination of research on confounders such as pain modality, drug administration route, and opioid type.

Main Results:

  • The existence of OIH in clinical settings is debated, with conflicting findings in different patient groups.
  • Studies on opioid-maintained patients have yielded inconsistent results regarding altered nociceptive profiles.
  • Confounding factors like pain type, administration route, and specific opioid are significant in OIH development.

Conclusions:

  • Improvements in pain intensity after opioid discontinuation suggest a multidisciplinary approach for chronic pain.
  • Quantitative sensory testing is recommended for diagnosing hyperalgesia.
  • Currently, OIH is reliably validated only in healthy human volunteers receiving acute morphine infusions.