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Related Concept Videos

Opioid Analgesics: Synthetic and Semisynthetic Opioids01:15

Opioid Analgesics: Synthetic and Semisynthetic Opioids

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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...
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Analgesia and Pain Management01:25

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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...
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Opioid Analgesics: Morphine and Other Natural Cogeners01:20

Opioid Analgesics: Morphine and Other Natural Cogeners

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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...
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Depressants01:28

Depressants

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Depressant drugs, including alcohol and sedative-hypnotics, diminish central nervous system activity by enhancing the action of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a neurotransmitter that reduces brain activity and promotes relaxation. These substances can have various therapeutic uses but also pose significant risks, especially when misused or combined.
Alcohol is a common depressant that can induce a sense of relaxation and reduced inhibition at low doses. Contrary to its occasional...
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Desensitization and Tachyphylaxis01:20

Desensitization and Tachyphylaxis

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Tachyphylaxis is described as a rapid decrease in response to a drug after repeated or continuous administration of the same drug dose. It is a phenomenon where the body becomes less responsive to a particular substance or intervention over time, requiring higher doses or stronger interventions to achieve the same effect. It results from adaptive changes in the body's receptors, signaling pathways, or physiological processes that occur in response to prolonged exposure to a stimulus.
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Prescription, Nonprescription and Orphan Drugs01:02

Prescription, Nonprescription and Orphan Drugs

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Prescription drugs require a prescription from a medical practitioner and can only be obtained from a pharmacy. They have many applications, including treating pain, anxiety, and hypertension.
The misuse and addiction to prescription drugs is a growing problem that can affect people of all age groups, specifically teenagers. This can happen when prescription medications are used in ways not intended by the prescriber, such as taking someone else's prescription or using medication for...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 22, 2026

Inducing Post-Traumatic Epilepsy in a Mouse Model of Repetitive Diffuse Traumatic Brain Injury
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Safety concerns with long-term opioid use.

Michael Harned1, Paul Sloan1

  • 1a Department of Anesthesiology , University of Kentucky Medical Center , Lexington , KY , USA.

Expert Opinion on Drug Safety
|April 13, 2016
PubMed
Summary

Opioid therapy risks include overdose and addiction, especially at higher doses. Careful monitoring and lower doses are crucial for managing chronic pain safely.

Area of Science:

  • Pharmacology
  • Pain Management
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Opioid therapy benefits must be weighed against adverse effects.
  • Prescription opioid use has risen, alongside increased abuse, overdose, and mortality.
  • Balancing therapeutic benefits with significant risks is essential.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To categorize common risks associated with opioid administration.
  • To highlight the association between higher opioid doses and increased overdose risk.
  • To inform clinical practice regarding safe opioid prescribing.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recognized adverse effects of opioid therapy.
  • Analysis of studies linking opioid dosage to overdose and mortality.
  • Examination of risks associated with extended-release/long-acting (ER/LA) formulations.
Keywords:
Chronic painabuse deterrenceextended-releasenaloxonenaltrexoneopioids

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Main Results:

  • Common adverse effects include constipation, tolerance, endocrinopathies, sleep disorders, cognitive effects, respiratory depression, overdose, and addiction.
  • Higher daily opioid doses, particularly exceeding 100 mg oral morphine equivalent, increase overdose and death risk.
  • ER/LA formulations may pose a higher abuse risk if misused due to higher individual tablet dosage.

Conclusions:

  • Chronic opioid therapy requires prospective, controlled trials to establish long-term efficacy and safety.
  • Opioid effects on sleep and central sleep apnea are emerging concerns.
  • Lowest effective daily opioid doses are recommended for chronic pain, with caution advised for doses exceeding 50-100 mg oral morphine equivalent.