5a: Opioids

Question 1

uses for opioid analgesics

Answer 1

• moderate to severe pain, such as trauma, surgery, chronic pain, advanced cancer
• considered a controlled substance in US

Question 2

mechanism of opioid analgesics

Answer 2

bind to specific neuron receptors located in the CNS, used by both exogenous and endogenous opioids

Question 3

examples of endogenous opioids

Answer 3

endorphins, enkephalins, dynorphins (produced by the body)

Question 4

three primary classes opioid receptors

Answer 4

Mu, Kappa, Delta (stimulation of any of these causes analgesia)

Question 5

side effects of Mu receptor stimulation

Answer 5

respiratory depression, constipation, opioid abuse, addiction

Question 6

mixed agonist-antagonist opioids

Answer 6

opioids that stimulate kappa receptors while avoiding or blocking mu receptors; these are less likely to cause respiratory depression or abuse

Question 7

strong agonists

Answer 7

used for treating severe pain, primarily Mu receptors (ex: morphine, fentanyl)

Question 8

mild-to-moderate agonists

Answer 8

used for moderate pain, do not have as high of an affinity as strong agonists (ex: codeine, oxycodone)

Question 9

antagonists

Answer 9

used to treat opioid overdoses and addiction; block all opioid receptors (increased affinity for Mu), will not produce analgesia (ex: naloxone)

Question 10

pharmacokinetics of opioids

Answer 10

• admin: many ways
• main effects after they reach CNS, metabolized mostly in liver
• excreted in urine

Question 11

sites of opioid effects

Answer 11

spinal, brain (supraspinal), peripheral

Question 12

other uses of opioids

Answer 12

cough suppressors, control severe diarrhea, adjunct to general anesthesia

Question 13

adverse effects of opioids

Answer 13

sedation, drowsiness, euphoria, respiratory depression, GI distress (N, V, constipation), addiction, tolerance

Question 14

opioid withdrawal timeline

Answer 14

evident 6-10 hours after the last dose and will continue for 5 days

Question 15

opioid withdrawal symptoms

Answer 15

body aches, diarrhea, fever, tachycardia, weakness/fatigue, shivering, sweating, irritability, N&V

Question 16

opioid induced hyperalgesia

Answer 16

when patients fail to respond to opioids or have increased pain when given opioids (may be due to genetic factors)

Question 17

what drug is used to treat opioid addiction?

Answer 17

naloxone

Question 18

rehab implications of opioids

Answer 18

• SE: sedation and GI discomfort
• schedule with pain relief effects
• opioids can cause respiratory depression
• addicts may complain of diffuse muscle aches