Opioids In Medicine

Analysis: Opioids are a class of drug that are medically used as very effective painkillers, like fentanyl and morphine, however, they are highly addictive and produce a feeling of euphoria (“Opioids”). This combination leads do a lot of abuse and dependency, where people take more than prescribed in order to feel better. People start off taking the opioid painkillers in order to not feel pain as prescribed by their doctors. Then, they end up getting addicted to them. There are also illicit opioids, such as heroin, that are also highly addictive and also lead to dependency and death (“Opioids”). These illicit versions are taken for recreational reasons, and are also often mixed with other drugs. The combination of taking an unregulated drug in conjunction with other drugs leads to a lot of overdoses.

Individuals who use Opioids are Addicts. The history of this very debatable topic is very educational and interesting. Opioids are drugs that are prescribed for severe to chronic pain, some examples of opioids are: morphine,?methadone, Buprenorphine,?hydrocodone, and?oxycodone.?Heroin?is also an opioid and is illegal. Opioid drugs sold under brand names include: OxyContin?,?Percocet?, Palladone?(taken off the market 7/2005),Vicodin?, Percodan?, Tylox? and?Demerol? among others. These drugs are also classified as a schedule II drug. Substances in this schedule have a high potential for abuse which may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence. Substances are placed in their respective schedules based on whether they have a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States, their relative abuse potential, and likelihood

Individuals who use Opioids are Addicts. The history of this very debatable topic is very educational and interesting. Opioids are drugs that are prescribed for severe to chronic pain, some examples of opioids are: morphine,?methadone, Buprenorphine,?hydrocodone, and?oxycodone.?Heroin?is also an opioid and is illegal. Opioid drugs sold under brand names include: OxyContin?,?Percocet?, Palladone?(taken off the market 7/2005),Vicodin?, Percodan?, Tylox? and?Demerol? among others. These drugs are also classified as a schedule II drug. Substances in this schedule have a high potential for abuse which may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence. Substances are placed in their respective schedules based on whether they have a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States, their relative abuse potential, and likelihood

The problem with opioids as a sole source of relief is that not only are they physically and psychologically addictive, but the user also begins to build a tolerance to the therapeutic effects. Eventually one requires higher doses in order to achieve the initial levels of pain relief. As the dose increases, so does the level of dependency and addiction. If a doctor refuses to increase the dose for the patient’s safety, the pain returns and patient may begin to feel the effects of opiate withdrawal. In worst-case scenarios people begin to abuse alcohol or seek out prescription pain medication illegally. Illicit and less expensive street drugs are often sought out if the afflicted can no longer afford their medications or cannot find a source of pain and addiction relief anywhere else. Purchase of street drugs becomes common when addiction begins to affect someone’s ability to keep a steady source of income. As a result, there has been a surge of opioid, heroin, and alcohol abuse and eventual overdose. (Dart, et al., 2015)

Opioids are prescription drugs that deal with reducing pain when taken. There are various types of prescription drugs that can classify as opioids such as morphine, codeine, hydrocodone, or Demerol, to name a few. The drugs originally are synthesized and derived from the opium poppy, Physicians will prescribe this medication as a painkiller, but many others turned to purer doses of these medications and started turning to more potent drugs like heroin or Percocet. The one thing that these brand name drugs have in common is that they contain opium, an extremely addictive narcotic drug. In many cases, many patients receiving pain killing medication from doctors become dependent on the drug, leading them to use it recreationally instead

“Opioids act by attaching to specific proteins called opioid receptors, which are found on nerve cells in the brain, spinal cord, gastrointestinal tract and other organs of the body. When these drugs attach to their receptors, they reduce the perception of pain and produce a sense of well-being, however, they can also produce drowsiness, mental confusion, nausea, and constipation.” (NIDA 2017) These drugs alter the functions of the brain that interact with areas of reward and

Moreover, opioid drugs are potent modulators of many physiological and psychological processes. When given acutely, they can elicit the signature responses of euphoria and analgesia that societies have coveted for centuries.1 Repeated, or chronic, use of opioids induces adaptive or allostatic

Opioids are pain relievers that bind to opioid receptors on nerve cells throughout the body. They produce feelings of euphoria, tranquility and sedation. However, opioids are “considered the most harmful of all illicit drugs” (Amato et al., 2005, p.321).

In the alleviation of pain in chronic conditions such as cancer and rheumatoid arthritis, opioids are used. The codeine that falls under opioids is ten times less efficient compared to morphine. Some opioid analgesics such as hydromorphone are more potent compared to morphine, reports Rxlist. The opioid drugs act by binding to opioid receptors in the central nervous system. Unlike other analgesics that inhibits cyclooxygenase enzymes involved in mediating the

It's scary to think that we live in a world where drug addiction is a growing epidemic plaguing families on a daily basis. One of the most common drug abuse problems to date is that of addiction to prescription medications, but more specifically opiates. Opiates are used to help treat chronic and severe pain, but the drug can become highly addictive. In recent years, more people have overdosed as a result of prescription medications than both heroin and cocaine combined.

Opioid receptors are members of the G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) family, which consists of 7 transmembrane domains linked together by 3 extracellular and 3 intracellular loops (Trescot et al., 2008). The three different classes of opioid receptors are: -opioid receptor, -opioid receptor and -opioid receptor, which are distributed throughout the central and peripheral nervous systems (Trescot et al., 2008). -opioid receptors are associated with analgesia, euphoria and physical dependence and are predominately located in the brainstem and thalamus (Trescot et al., 2008). -opioid receptors, on the other hand, are primarily found in limbic brain topography, brain stem and spinal cord, and are related to dysphoria and analgesia (Trescot et al., 2008). Although -opioid receptor mechanisms are poorly understood, it has been indicated to also have psychomimetic effects (Trescot et al., 2008).

Opioid receptors can be separated into two different categories: classic and non-classic. Classic consists of the Mu (), Kappa (), Delta () receptors[15]. While the Non-classic includes only ORL1[15]. As shown in Figure 9, presynaptic neutrons contain opioid receptors are G-protein coupled receptors with seven transmembrane helical twist alongside three extracellular and intracellular loops[15]. Further, G-proteins are typically made of three subunits which include , , and . These receptors can be activated by either an endogenous peptide or an exogenous drug that acts as an agonist[16]. In this case, morphine is an exogenous drug that can mimic the response of an endogenous peptide such as endorphins[16]. If opioid receptors is inactive, the Ca2+ ion channels are open which permits the flow of Ca2+ ions into the presynaptic neuron. Simultaneously, the K+ ion channel is closed that prevents any release of K+ ions to the extracellular space.

Opioids are the most widely used and effective of analgesics for the treatment of severe pain. They act by binding to specific proteins called opioid receptors, which are found in the central nervous system. There are four known receptors mu, delta, kappa and opiate like receptor. The most common pain management receptor is the mu, it is also involved with mood enhancers and causes activation of dopamine that is associated with euphoria. When these drugs attach to their receptors, they drastically reduce the amount of pain. Opioids can also produce other effects such as, drowsiness, nausea, lowering of blood pressure and reducing respiration. Opioids can also produce a euphoric feeling for some users, as it is interferes with the reward pathways.

Morphine produces both its therapeutic and its adverse effects by interaction with one or more classes of specific opioid receptors located throughout the body. Morphine acts as a full agonist, binding with and activating opioid receptors at sites in the periaqueductal and periventricular

Prescription drug misuse has seen some steady growing numbers in America throughout the last 10 years. Vashishtha Devish explains: “In the USA, over 2.4 million people meet the criteria for severe opioid use disorder (OUD) involving dependence on opioid analgesic medications, heroin, or both.”(Device 1) According to StatNews if we don’t do anything about this more than 650,000 people will die in the next 10 years from opioid misuse. If we don’t stop now, we may not be able to take control of this epidemic.(STAT 2) Dan Nolan and Chris Amico from PBS FrontLine states: “In 1999, there were more than twice as many motor vehicle deaths as fatal drug overdoses. By 2014, those numbers had flipped, with almost 40 percent more deaths from overdoses than car crashes.” Heroin and other prescription opioids are the reason for an average of 27,000 deaths a year, more than triple the rate in 2000.(PBS 3) Opioids are medications that interact with opioid receptors in the brain and the spinal cord to reduce pain in the body; also affecting the part of your brain that control emotion. Opioids have been used for centuries to treat pain, cough, and diarrhea. Besides relieving pain, opioids activate regions in the brain that control pleasure. This causes the euphoria or high and therefore showing potential for misuse and addiction. When taken, Opioids quickly attach to receptors in our brain and spinal cord and block the perception of pain, it also floods your brain with dopamine; a chemical