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Published on: July 29, 2014
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On subclasses of opioid analgesics
1Temple University School of Pharmacy , Philadelphia, PA , USA.
Current Medical Research and Opinion
|August 9, 2014
Summary
New analgesics combine opioid and non-opioid mechanisms, offering distinct clinical profiles that defy traditional classification. Recognizing these subclasses improves drug use and discovery for better pain management.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Neuroscience
- Drug Discovery
Background:
- Analgesic drug discovery evolved from plant-derived substances to targeted molecular design.
- Modern analgesics aim for greater separation between pain relief and adverse effects.
- Recent developments include drugs with both opioid and non-opioid components, presenting unique clinical profiles.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize the development of multi-mechanistic pain treatment strategies.
- To describe current analgesics with multi-mechanisms of action (opioid and non-opioid).
- To highlight analgesics with atypical opioid clinical profiles due to pharmacokinetic characteristics.
Main Methods:
- Review of the evolution of analgesic drug discovery.
- Summary of modern understanding of multi-mechanistic pain.
- Description of current analgesics with combined opioid and non-opioid actions.
Main Results:
- Several current strong analgesics possess opioid components but also non-opioid mechanisms.
- These drugs exhibit atypical opioid clinical profiles due to unique pharmacokinetic features.
- Such characteristics make them difficult to classify as traditional opioids.
Conclusions:
- Opioid analgesics that differ from classical opioids necessitate scientific reclassification.
- Recognizing subclasses of opioid analgesics will enhance clinical use and regulatory control.
- This approach will guide future drug discovery strategies for novel analgesics.
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