Narcotic analgesics and non-narcotic analgesics Flashcards
What type of drugs are narcotic analgesics?
Opioids
What group of drugs are non-narcotic analgesics?
NSAIDs
What proportion of visits to the doctor are due to pain?
60-90%
Should lecturers put weird philosophy stuff in their slides?
No
In order, what are the phases of pain?
- Transduction
- Transmission
- Perception
- Modulation
What are the two general systems by which pain reception happens?
The nociceptive system and the antinociceptive system
What is the nociceptive system?
The system of pain reception and its physical appreciation with launching of some conditional and unconditional reflexes
What is the antinociceptive system?
The system of excessive pain reception suppression
Why does the antinociceptive system exist?
Excessive pain perception can lead to distress and shock, so this system prevents such excess
What are first order pain afferents?
Neurones that, when triggered by a stimulus, conduct a pain signal to the spinal cord.
What are second order pain afferents?
Neurones that conduct a pain signal up the spinal cord
What are opiates and opioids?
OPIATE
Drugs derived from opium like morphine and codeine, and a wide variety of semi synthetic agents derived from them and from thebaine, another component of opium
OPIOID
A more inclusive term referring to all agonists and antagonists with morphine-like activity as well as to naturally occurring and synthetic opioid peptides
What does the term endorphin refer to?
Three families of endogenous opioid peptides: the enkephalins, dynorphins and beta-endorphins
What kind of receptors are opioid receptors?
G-protein coupled receptors
Where in the synapse are opioid receptors located?
On the prejunctional neurones
What is the outcome of the effect of activated opioid receptors?
Inhibition of release of neurotransmitters noradrenaline, dopamine, GABA, 5-HT ad glutamate
Describe the molecular process between activation of opioid receptors and their final effect
Activation reduces intracellular cAMP formation
Opening of K+ channel via μ and δ
Suppression of N-type Ca++ channels
Ultimately hyperpolarisation and reduced intracellular Ca++
Reduced neurotransmitter release
What are the three types of opioid receptor?
Delta, kappa and mu
Where are delta, kappa and mu opioid receptors found in the body?
Delta - Brain
Kappa - Brain, spinal cord
Mu - Brain spinal cord
What are the therapeutic effects of activation of the three types of opioid receptor?
DELTA - Analgesia, antidepressant effects, physical dependence
KAPPA - Spinal analgesia, sedation, miosis, inhibition of anti-diuretic hormone release
MU1 - Supraspinal analgesia, physical dependence
MU2 - Respiratory deression, miosis, euphoria, reduced GI motility, physical dependence
How are narcotic agents traditionally classified?
STRONG - morphine, diamorphine, fentanyl
INTERMEDIATE - partial agonists, mixed agonist-antagonist
WEAK - codeine
How are narcotic agents structurally classified?
MORPHINANS - morphine, codeine
PHENYLPERIDINES - meriperidine, fentanyl
DIPHENYLPROPHYLAMINES - methadone, dextropropoxyphene
ESTERS - remfentanil
How are narcotic agents functionnally classified?
PURE AGONISTS - morphine, codeine
PARTIAL AGONISTS - buprenorphrine
MIXED ACTION - pentazocine, nalbupine, butorphanol
ANTAGONISTS - naxolone
What side effects of narcotic analgesics does the mnemonic MORPHINE stand for?
M - miosis O - orthostatic hypotension R - respiratory depression P - physical dependency H - histamine release I - increased ICP N - nausea E - euphoria S - sedation
Describe the analgesic action of morphine
Two components: spinal and supraspinal
Inhibits release of excitatory transmitters from primary afferents - at substantia gelatinosa of dorsal horn
Exerted through interneurones - gating of pain
At supraspinal level in midbrain, cortex and medulla - alter processing and interpretation and send inhibitory impulses through descending pathway
Describe the sedation caused by morphine
Drowsiness and indifference to surroundings
Inability to concentrate and extravagant imagination - colourful daydream
Apparent excitement
Larger doses produce sleep - EEG resembles normal sleep
Describe the mood effects of morphine
In normal persons calming effect, mental clouding, feeling of detachment, lack of initiative etc - unpleasant in absence of pain
Sometimes dysphoria
But in persons with pain and addicts sense of wellbeing, pleasurable floating sensations - kick euphoria
Describe the depressive actions of morphine
Respiratory centre depression - both rate and depth of depression are diminished - dangerous in head injury and asthmatics
Cough centre depressed
Temperature centre regulation depressed
Vasomotor centre - high doses cause fall in blood pressure
Describe the stimulating effects of morphine
CTZ (cranioreceptor trigger zone) - sensitize CTZ to vestibular and other impulses
Edingher Westphal Nucleus - miosis
Vagal centre - bradycardia
Hippocampal cells - convulsions (inhibition of GABA release)
Describe the effect of morphine on the gastrointestinal tract
Constipation due to direct action on the intestine reducing propulsive movement, spasm of sphincters, decrease in all GIT secretions
Describe the effect of morphine on the smooth muscles
Biliary tract - biliary colic, closure of sphincter of Oddi
Bladder - urinary urgency but difficulty
Bronchi - bronchospasm
What are the therapeutic uses of morphine?
- Long bone fracture
- Myocardial infarction
- Terminal stages of cancer
- Burn patients
- Visceral pains - pulmonary embolism, pleurisy, acute
pericarditis - Biliary colic and renal colic
- obstetric analgesia
- Segmental analgesia
What are the side effects of morphine?
- Respiratory depression (infant and old)
- Vomiting
- Sedation, mental clouding - sometimes dysphoria
- Hypotensive effect
- Rise in intracranial pressure
- Apnoea: new born
- Urinary retention
- Idiosyncrasy and allergy
- Acute morphine poisoning
- Tolerance and dependence
What dose of morphine causes acute poisoning?
> 50mg
What dose of morphine is lethal?
> 250mg
How is morphine overdose managed?
Gastric lavage with potassium permanganate (KMNO4)
Antidote is Naloxone 0.4-0.8mg every 2-3 minutes until respiration picks up
What is the danger of repeated morphine use?
Psychological dependence
Physiological dependence
Tolerance
Withdrawal syndrome
How long do short- and long- acting opiates have an effect?
Short - 6 to 12hrs
Long - 30hrs
What are the symptoms of opiate withdrawal?
Nausea Vomiting Stomach cramps Diarrhoea Goosebumps Depression Drug cravings
Where does Tramadol act?
Centrally acting
How strongly does Tramadol stimulate opioid receptors?
Very weakly
How does Tramadol reduce pain?
Other mechanisms involved in analgesic action
NA reuptake inhibition - spinal inhibition of pain
What routes of administration are effective for Tramadol?
Oral and IV
How do the side effects of tramadol compare to those of morphine?
Similar but less severe
How well tolerated is tramadol?
Well tolerated
How much abuse potential is there for tramadol?
Low abuse potential
How well does naloxone reverse the action of tramadol?
Only partially
What is tramadol used for?
Neuropathic pain and short diagnostic procedures