Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 13, 2026
07:23
Assessment of Morphine-induced Hyperalgesia and Analgesic Tolerance in Mice Using Thermal and Mechanical Nociceptive Modalities
Published on: July 29, 2014
Opioids, sensory systems and chronic pain
1Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Charité Campus Benjamin Franklin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12200 Berlin, Germany.
European Journal of Pharmacology
|March 19, 2013
Summary
This review examines opioid analgesia and side effects, focusing on chronic pain mechanisms and management. It covers central/peripheral actions, novel compounds, and non-pharmacological factors for effective pain relief.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Neuroscience
- Pain Management
Background:
- Opioids are potent analgesics for severe acute pain.
- Long-term opioid use for chronic pain faces scrutiny.
- Pain is a complex bio-psycho-social issue.
Purpose of the Study:
- Review sensory mechanisms of opioid analgesia and side effects.
- Emphasize opioid use in chronic pain.
- Discuss central and peripheral actions, drug compounds, and non-pharmacological factors.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of opioid pharmacology and pain mechanisms.
- Analysis of sensory pathways involved in analgesia and side effects.
- Inclusion of bio-psycho-social aspects of pain.
Main Results:
- Opioid efficacy and side effects involve complex central and peripheral mechanisms.
- Novel opioid compounds and non-pharmacological approaches are relevant.
- Perioperative management of long-term opioid users presents challenges.
Conclusions:
- Understanding opioid mechanisms is crucial for optimizing pain management.
- A multi-faceted approach including non-pharmacological strategies is essential.
- Further research into novel compounds and patient management is warranted.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Analgesia 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...
01:15Opioid 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...
01:44Nociception
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...
01:22Opioid 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...
01:20Opioid 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...
01:20Pain
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...