Opioids Flashcards
What is an opiate
An alkaloid derived from the poppy, Papaver somniferum
What is an opioid
Opioids are anything that behaves like an opiate (natural or synthetic)
Re opiate structure, what is important for the analgesic effect?
Tertiary nitrogen
What part of an opioid binds to receptor
Tertiary nitrogen
How to turn an opioid into an antagonist?
Extend tertiary nitrogen side chain by 3 carbons
What is the second most important part of an opioid for it to bind to a receptor
Hydroxyl group at position 3
Intravenous bioavailability of opioids?
100%
Opioids pKa? Implication for GI absorption?
More than 8, weak bases. So, poorly absorbed in stomach
Ionised or unionised in blood? Implication for tissue absorption? Opioids
Ionised, so not readily absorbed
How does lipid solubility effect potency, generally?
More lipid soluble, faster into brain, more powerful effect
What makes morphine the least lipid soluble?
The OH groups
how active are metabolites of morphine?
Active
Why are people who metabolize morphine poorly more likely to see negative side-effects
Because Morphine seems more likely to cause negative side-effects than the active metabolites
Which opioids are basically prodrugs? What are they metabolised into?
Heroine and codeine. Metabolised into morphine
Where is heroine metabolised into morphine?
In the brain
Active metabolite of morphine?
Morphine 6 glucoronide
Speed of metabolism and clearance of fentanyl? Impact on its effect
metabolized quickly and cleared, so it has a fast but short-lasting effect
Speed of metabolism and clearance of methadone? Impact on its effect
is metabolized slowly, so it accumulates in blood and fat, so it has a long-lasting effect (one of the reasons it’s used to ween people off of heroin)
Where is codeine metabolised into morphine?
liver
What metabolises codeine
2 cytochrome p450s
What is codeine metabolised into, %’s of each metabolite?
Norcodeine (90-95%, inactive) and morphine (active, 5-10%)
Why are some people good/some people bad metabolisers of codeine
common polymorphisms in the 2DY enzyme - People can be good or bad metabolizers of codeine
What receptors do opioids target
Opioid receptors
Endogenous opioids? (3/4)
- Endorphins
- Enkephalins
- Dynorphins/neoendorphins
What function do endorphins regulate?
Pain/sensorimotor
What function do Enkephalins regulate?
Motor/cognitive function
What function do dynorphins regulate?
Neuroendocrin
What receptors do dynorphins activate?
Kappa
What receptors do Enkephalins activate?
Delta
What receptors do endorphins activate?
Mu or Delta and Mu again
How do opioids slow cellular activity? (3)
- Hyperpolarizing cells (increasing K+ efflux) – so nerves affected can’t fire again till the effect wears off
- Reducing the inward calcium current (impacts exocytosis and release of neurotransmitters
- Decreasing adenylate cyclase activity
Positive effects of opioids? (3)
- Analgesia
- Euphoria
- Depression of cough centre (anti-tussive)
Negative effects of opioids?
- Depression of respiration (medulla)
- Stimulation of chemoreceptor trigger zone (nausea/vomiting)
- Pupillary Constriction
- G.I. Effects
How does pain reach the thalamus (start from pain reception)
- Pain is usually sensed peripherally by sensory neurons
- These relay information to the spinal cord (dorsal horn)
- This information is then relayed along spino-thalamic neurons to the brain
- The first place it reaches is the thalamus, which decides where to direct the information
What is the role of the PAG - PERIAQUEDUCTAL GRAY in the pain tolerance pathway
PAG region is the integrating centre for the PTP – it receives all the information and determines output
What does PAG stand for
PERIAQUEDUCTAL GRAY
Where does the thalamus send its pain sensory information
cortex and PAG
What does NRPG stand for
NUCLEUS RETICULARIS PARAGIGANTOCELLULARIS