Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 15, 2026

Assessment of Morphine-induced Hyperalgesia and Analgesic Tolerance in Mice Using Thermal and Mechanical Nociceptive Modalities
Published on: July 29, 2014
Rapid onset opioids in palliative medicine
1Albany Medical College, Department of Anesthesiology, 47 New Scotland Avenue, MC-131 Albany, New York 12208, USA. smithh@mail.amc.edu.
Abstract:
Opioids are potent broad-spectrum analgesics useful to treat a variety of painful conditions. Opioids have been classified by many different categorizations (e.g. natural, semisynthetic, synthetic). One classification that may be useful in terms of selecting specific opioid agents is based on the pharmacokinetic characteristics of the various opioid formulations (e.g. longacting opioids, short-acting opioids, and rapid onset opioids). These various opioid agents appear to be useful to "match" specific types of pains. Rapid onset opioids appear especially well-suited to treat breakthrough pain and in particular, rapidonset breakthrough pain. This article will briefly review 5 rapid onset opioids that are FDA approved in the U.S.
Related Concept Videos
Opioid Analgesics: Synthetic and Semisynthetic Opioids
Opioid Analgesics: Morphine and Other Natural Cogeners
Analgesia and Pain Management
Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Opioids as Antidiarrheal Agents
Opioids, widely used antidiarrheal agents, mitigate diarrhea by slowing down...
Parenteral Anesthetics: Overview
Opioid Receptors: Overview

