opiods Flashcards
Question: What is the primary use of opioid agonists?
Answer: Opioid agonists are primarily used to control acute or chronic pain. They are also used to treat diarrhea and cough.
Question: How do opioid agonists work in the body?
Answer: Opioid agonists bind to opioid receptors in the brain, spinal cord, and gastrointestinal tract, preventing the release of GABA and allowing the release of dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine, which reduces pain and creates a calming sensation.
Question: What are endogenous and exogenous opioids?
Answer: Endogenous opioids, like endorphins, are naturally produced by the body. Exogenous opioids, like heroin and morphine, come from outside the body.
Question: What are full agonists and partial agonists in the context of opioids?
Answer: Full agonists, like morphine, fully activate opioid receptors, completely inhibiting GABA release. Partial agonists, like tramadol, only partially inhibit GABA release.
Question: Name some commonly used full agonist opioids.
Answer: Common full agonist opioids include morphine, methadone, fentanyl, meperidine, codeine, hydrocodone, and oxycodone.
Question: What is the clinical use of fentanyl?
Answer: Fentanyl is used for severe pain management and as an anesthetic due to its rapid onset and short duration of action.
Question: Why is methadone used in opioid use disorder treatment?
Answer: Methadone is used because it does not cause euphoria, has a long half-life, decreases withdrawal symptoms, and blocks the euphoric effects of other opioids.
Question: What are the main side effects of opioid agonists?
Answer: Side effects include euphoria, dysphoria, decreased gastrointestinal motility leading to constipation, increased biliary tract motility, pinpoint pupils, flushing, and nausea.
Question: What is the most common cause of death from opioid overdose?
Answer: The most common cause of death from opioid overdose is respiratory depression due to decreased activity in the medulla.
Question: Why should opioids be avoided in patients with head injury?
Answer: Opioids should be avoided because they increase intracranial pressure, which can exacerbate the condition in patients with head injuries.
Question: What are common partial agonists and their uses?
Answer: Common partial agonists include buprenorphine, butorphanol, pentazocine, and tramadol, used to manage moderate pain and treat opioid use disorder.
Question: How does buprenorphine help in opioid use disorder?
Answer: Buprenorphine decreases cravings and withdrawal symptoms without causing an overdose or euphoria, making it a safer alternative to methadone.
Question: What are the signs of opioid withdrawal?
Answer: Signs of opioid withdrawal include anxiety, agitation, confusion, sweating, and the sensation of skin crawling.
Question: What is the role of naloxone in opioid overdose?
Answer: Naloxone is used to reverse opioid overdose by competing with opioids for the same receptors, thereby counteracting their effects.
