Analgesia & Opioids Flashcards

1
Q

Define opioid.

A

Any substance that mediates an analgesic effect through opioid receptors that can be blocked by naloxone

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Give examples of natural opioids.

A

Morphine

Codeine

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What are the four classes of synthetic opioids?

A

Phenylpiperidine
Diphenylpropylamine
Benzomorphan
Thebaine

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Give examples of phenylpiperidine opioids.

A

Pethidine
Fentanyl
Alfentanyl

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Give examples of diphenylpropylamine opioids.

A

Methadone

Dextropropoxyphene

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Give examples of benzomorphan opioids.

A

Pentazocaine

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Give examples of semi-synthetic opioids.

A

Diamorphine
Dihydrocodeine
Buprenorphine

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Give an example of thebaine opioids.

A

Buprenorphine

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What are the general undesired effects of opioids?

A

Modulation of GI, endocrine and autonomic function

Role in cognition

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What are endogenous opioids derived from?

A

Precursor proteins via proteolytic cleavage of pro-opiomelanocortin

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What are the two enkephalins?

A

Met

Leu

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What are the two dynorphins?

A

A

B

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What are the three endorphins?

A

A-neo
B-neo
Bh-neo

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What are the two endomorphins?

A

1

2

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What are the four subtypes of opioid receptor?

A

Meu (MOP)
Delta (DOP)
Kappa (KOP)
Nociceptin (NOP)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What are the IUPHAR standard nomenclatures for opioid receptors?

A

MOP 1-3
DOP 1,2
KOP 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Describe the effects of MOP receptors.

A
Analgesia
Depressions
Euphoria
Physical dependence
Respiratory depression
Sedation
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Describe the effects of DOP receptors.

A

Analgesia
Inhibition of dopamine release
Modulation of MOP

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Describe the effects of KOP receptors.

A

Analgesia
Diuresis
Dysphoria

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Describe the mechanism of opioid receptors.

A

G-Protein Coupled receptors present on both pre and postsynaptic membrane
Inhibition of adenylate cyclase which reduces cAMP and neurotransmitter release by dissociated α substrate
Dampens down activity of pain nerves
Dissociated β and 𝜸 substrates alter ion movement
Activation of voltage-gated inward rectifying potassium channels
- Hyperpolarisation of cells
- Decreased responsiveness to depolarising stimuli
- Reduced neurotransmitter release
Inhibition of voltage gated (N type) calcium channels
Reduces neurotransmitter release

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What are nociceptive fibres?

A

Free nerve endings present throughout the periphery

Respond to multiple types of stimuli

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Describe the structure of C nociceptive fibres? What response are they responsible for?

A

Unmyelinated

Dull, diffuse, burning pain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Describe the structure of Aẟ nociceptive fibres? What response are they responsible for?

A

Myelinated

Sharp, localised pain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Describe the stimulation of nociceptors.

A

Release of neurotransmitters causing inflammation and exacerbation
Prostaglandins able to sensitise nociceptor to allow perception of pain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

Describe the ascending pain pathway.

A

Nociceptor is stimulated
Action potential travels along axon to cell body in dorsal ganglion
First order afferent- peripheral to dorsal ganglion
Action potential potentiated along to dorsal horn
Signal transferred up to next nerve- second order afferent
Action potential travels to the thalamus
Signal transferred to next nerve which terminates in somatosensory cortex- third order afferent

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

Describe the descending pain pathway.

A

Somatosensory cortex connects with brain regions which co-ordinate response
The amygdala, anterior cingulate cortex, insular cortex and hypothalamus send projections to the periaqueductal grey
PAG sends signals to rostroventral medulla
RVM sends signals to dorsal horn, where nerve interacts with ascending pathway
Descending pathway may synapse onto the nociceptor AND/OR cell body in the spinal cord to dampen activity

27
Q

How do opioids act on the pain pathway?

A

At the spinal cord, opioids are able to interact and dampen down the ascending transmission to reduce pain stimulation
Acts as negative feedback

28
Q

List the neurotransmitters involved in the ascending pain pathway.

A

Glutamate
Substance P
CGRP (calcitonin gene-related peptide)
Nitric oxide

29
Q

List the neurotransmitters involved in the descending pain pathway.

A
Endogenous opioids
5-HT
Noradrenaline
Endo-cannabinoids
Glycine
GABA
30
Q

Describe the role of MOP receptors in pain.

A

Involved in motor and sensory processing, integration and perception of pain
Located pre-synaptically on primary afferent neurones in the dorsal horn
Inhibit glutamate release and therefore transmission of nociceptive stimuli

31
Q

Describe the role of DOP receptors in pain.

A

Located pre-synaptically on primary afferent neurones in the dorsal horn and secondary afferent neurones in the brain
Inhibit neurotransmitter release and therefore transmission of nociceptive stimuli

32
Q

Give examples of opioid analgesics that are full agonists.

A

Morphine, diamorphine, fentanyl, pethidine, dyhydrocodeine, codeine, hydrocodone, levorphanol, methadone, oxycodone

33
Q

Give examples of opioid analgesics that are mixed agonist-antagonists.

A

Pentazocine weak agonist at KOP and weak antagonist at MOP

34
Q

Give examples of opioid analgesics that are mixed partial agonist-antagonists.

A

Buprenorphine partial agonist at MOP, weak antagonist at KOP

35
Q

Describe the additional properties of the opioid meptazinol.

A

MOP receptor agonist and muscarinic agonist

36
Q

Describe the additional properties of the opioid tramadol.

A

MOP receptor agonist

Blocks neuronal serotonin and noradrenaline uptake

37
Q

Describe the additional properties of the opioid methadone.

A

MOP receptor agonist
Blocks neuronal serotonin and noradrenaline uptake
Antagonist at NMDA receptors

38
Q

What are opioids most effect against?

A

Chronic visceral pain

Peripheral noxious stimuli consistently activating

39
Q

Give examples of strong opioids.

A
Morphine
Pethidine
Fentanyl
Alfentanil
Remifentanil
40
Q

Give examples of intermediate opioids.

A

Buprenorphine

Pentazocaine

41
Q

Give examples of weak opioids.

A

Codeine

42
Q

Describe the pharmacokinetics of opioids.

A

Opioids are weak bases (pKa 6.5-8.7)
Opioids are highly ionised in the stomach, therefore poorly absorbed
Highly absorbed in the small intestine
Undergo extensive first pass metabolism in the intestinal wall and liver, resulting in low oral bioavailability
High lipid solubility facilitates opioid transport into biophase or site of action, therefore a more rapid onset of action
Most are extensively distributed in the body, volumes of distribution exceed total body water
Small IV doses of short acting opioids produce short duration of action because plasma concentration remains above threshold for therapeutic action for only a brief period as drug rapidly redistributes from CNS to other tissues

43
Q

Describe the metabolism of opioids.

A

Mainly occurs in the liver
Main mechanism is conjugation with glucuronide
Entero-hepatic recirculation can occur
Morphine-6-glucuronide has greater analgesic effect than morphine itself
Diamorphine and codeine both have active metabolites

44
Q

Describe the mechanism by which opioids cause N+V.

A

Opioids stimulate chemoreceptor trigger zone
Tends to be short lived
Worse in ambulatory patients
In equi-analgesia, codeine is worse than morphine for vomiting
Blocked by dopamine antagonists
Apomorphine is a dopamine receptor agonist with a similar structure to morphine

45
Q

Describe the mechanism by which opioids cause convulsions.

A

High doses excite hippocampal pyramidal neurones
Inhibition of GABA release
Blocked by opioid antagonists
Pethidine is metabolised to norpethidine which is a proconvulsant, blocked by anti-convulsant not opioid antagonist

46
Q

Describe the mechanism by which opioids cause respiratory effects.

A

Action at medullary respiratory centre by µ2
µ1- receptor selective less depression i.e. meptazinol
Decreased respiratory rate and response to increased pCO2
Decreased FEV1

47
Q

Describe the mechanism by which opioids cause GI effects.

A

Increased tone in propulsive muscle
Decreased contractions in propulsive muscle
Contracts GIT sphincters, increased pain in biliary colic
Leads to decreased water movement into lumen, likely to result in constipation

48
Q

Describe the mechanism by which opioids cause endocrine effects.

A

Suppression of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis leading to decline in plasma cortisol
Increased prolactin release
Reduction in LH release leading to testosterone and oestrogen deficiencies

49
Q

Describe the mechanism by which opioids cause ocular effects.

A

Mediated via MOP and KOP on the Edinger-Westphal nucleus of the occulomotor nerve (3rd cranial nerve)
Increased parasympathetic outflow to iris sphincter and ciliary body
Accommodation for near vision affected
Pinpoint pupils can be a sign of overdose

50
Q

Describe the mechanism by which opioids cause itching.

A

Basic nature of morphine greater than histamine
Displaces histamine from histamine-heparin complex in mast cells
Causes urticaria, itching, bronchospasm, hypotension
More pronounced on face, nose and torso

51
Q

What is naloxone?

A

Opioid antagonist
Competitive at all three receptors
Used to treat respiratory depression in neonates and opioid overdose

52
Q

Define pyresis.

A

Thermostat raised by hypothalamus
Heat production and loss is in balance
Feel cold

53
Q

Define hyperthermia.

A

Thermostat not altered
Heat production > heat loss
Feel hot

54
Q

Describe the mechanism of a fever.

A

Occurs due to release of cytokines in response to tissue injury or infection
Cause release of prostaglandins and increased synthesis
PGE2 raises thermostat in hypothalamic thermoregulatory centre via binding to E-prostanoid receptors (3 and 4)
Core temperature is sensed as too low, hence feeling cold
Increased heat gain/conservation, despite body temperature not actually matching what the brain thinks

55
Q

Describe the production of prostaglandins.

A

Inflammatory stimulus causes phospholipase to mediate conversion of membrane phospholipids to arachidonic acid
COX then converts this to PGs

56
Q

What is the role of the COX-1 enzyme?

A

Constitutive
Present in many tissues
Functions to maintain physiological levels of PGs

57
Q

What is the role of the COX-2 enzyme?

A

Induced during inflammation
Synthesised in response to inflammatory stimulus
Rapidly produced by macrophages, endothelial cells, synoviocytes, chondrocytes
In CNS (hypothalamus), microvascular endothelial cells are the most important in producing COX-2

58
Q

What is the role of the COX-3 enzyme?

A

Constitutive
Splice variant of COX-1
Present in the spinal cord and brain

59
Q

Describe the action of antipyretics.

A

Prostaglandin production reduced, thermostat returned to normal
Aspirin and ibuprofen inhibit COX-1 and COX-2
Paracetamol inhibits COX-3 and (weakly) COX-2
Celebrex is a selective COX-2 inhibitor
Action of aspirin is irreversible
Ibuprofen is a reversible, competitive inhibitor
Paracetamol is reversible and non-competitive

60
Q

Describes the mechanisms of analgesia of paracetamol.

A

Paracetamol inhibits COX-3 and (weakly) COX-2
AM404 is similar in structure to anandamide, acts as a cannabinoid (CB1) receptor agonist producing analgesic effect at level of spinal cord and brain
Also activates TRPV1 channels causing analgesia through desensitisation of channels after initial activation
Also a free radical scavenger, reactive oxygen free radicals produced by neutrophils and macrophages in response to inflammation

61
Q

What are the physiological and pathophysiological roles of COX-1?

A

GI protection
Platelet aggregation
Blood flow regulation
Inflammation, chronic pain, increased blood pressure

62
Q

What are the physiological and pathophysiological roles of COX-2?

A
Renal and CNS function
Tissue repair and healing
Reproduction
Uterine contraction
Pancreas
Blood vessel dilation
Inhibition of platelet aggregation
Inflammation
Fever
Blood vessel permeability
Chronic pain
63
Q

Describe the side effects of aspirin and NSAIDs.

A

Increased HCl in GIT
Bronchoconstriction, promotion of AA to leukotriene production
Change in platelet behaviour, bleeding risk
Hyperventilation, respiratory alkalosis
Increased lactic acid and keto-acid production