Pain Medicine Flashcards
Where do A-β fibers terminate in the spinal cord?
Dorsal horn laminae III-V
Where do C fibers terminate in the spinal cord?
dorsal horn laminae I and II
Where do A-δ terminate in the spinal cord?
dorsal horn laminae I, III-V
What are the second-order neurons in the pain signaling pathway?
Wide dynamic range (WDR) neurons: located mostly in laminae III-V, receive input from low threshold A-β, nociceptive A-δ, and C fibers. Responses from WDR are graded - reflecting the type of stimulus fiber
Nociceptive-specific (NS) neurons; I and II only respond to noxious stimuli
What is gate control theory (Melzack and Wall, 1965)?
Input along low-threshold A-β fibers inhibit responses of nociceptive input to WDR (wide dynamic range) neurons
What is the size, velocity, myelination status, function of A-β fibers?
A-β: myelinated, 12-14 microns, 30-60m/s velocity
Function: touch, pressure, vibration, proprioception
What is the size, velocity, myelination status, function of A-δ fibers?
A-δ fibers: myelinated, 6-8 microns, 10-15 m/s velocity
Function: sharp pain, light touch, temperature
What is the size, velocity, myelination status, and function of C-fibers?
C fibers: unmyelinated, < 1 microns, < 1.5 m/s velocity
Function: dull, achy, burning pain, temperature
Opioid receptor types and function?
- *Mu1**: analgesia
- *Mu2**: respiratory depression, sedation, vomiting, euphoria, anorexia, physical dependence, pruritus
Delta: analgesia, spinal analgesia
Kappa: analgesia, sedation, psychotomimetic effects, dyspnea, respiratory depression, euphoria, dysphoria
What is pKa in relation to opioid pharmacology?
pH at which 50% of the drug is ionized. The non-ionized form crosses lipid membranes easily → The lower the pKa, the faster the onset of the drug
What does the octanol/water partition coefficient indicate?
Indicates lipid solubility (the higher the number, the more lipophilic the drug) - lipid-soluble drugs, such as fentanyl, exert most of their effect at the localized area where they are administered (less spreading of medication)
Oxycodone pKa, Octanol/H2O partition coefficient, mechanism of action?
Oxycodone
- pKa: 8.5 (lower pKa signifies faster onset of drug effect)
- Octanol/H2O partition coefficient: 0.7 (higher the number = more lipophilic)
- Mechanism: Mu agnoist (metabolites = oxymorphone, noroxycodone)
Oxymorphone pKa, Octanol/H2O partition coefficient, mechanism of action?
Oxymorphone
- pKa 9.3 (lower = faster onset)
- Octanol/H2O partition coefficient: 0.98 (higher = more lipophilic)
- Mechanism: opioid agonist (metabolites = 6-hydroxy-oxymorphone)
Hydromorphone pKa, Octanol/H2O partition coefficient, mechanism of action?
Hydromorphone (Dilaudid)
- pKa = 8.1 (lower = faster onset)
- Octanol/H2O partition coefficient: 1.28 (higher = more lipophilic)
- mechanism: Mu agonsit
- Metabolites = hydromorphone-3-glucuronide
Tramadol pKa, Octanol/H2O partition coefficient, mechanism of action?
Tramadol
- pKa: 9.4
- Octanol/H20 coefficient: 1.35
- Mechanism: weak mu agonist, weak NE/5HT re-uptake inhibitor
- Metabolite: O-desmethyltramadol
- **Contraindicated with MAOi or SSRI (increased risk of seratonin syndrome)
Morphine pKa, Octanol/H2O partition coefficient, mechanism of action?
Morphine
- pKa = 8.0 (lower = faster onset)
- Octanol/H2O partition coefficient = 1.4 (higher = more lipophilic)
- Mechanism: Mu agonist
- Metabolites: morphine-3-glucuronide, morphine-6-glucuronide, hydromorphone
- Do not use in renal failure
Talpentadol pKa, Octanol/H2O partition coefficient, mechanism of action?
Talpentadol
- pKa = 9.34-10.45 (lower = faster onset)
- Octanol/H2O partition coefficient: 2.87 (higher = more lipophilic)
- Mechanism: Mu agonist and NE reuptake inhibitor
- Metabolites: tapentadol-O-glucouronide
- **Do not use in severe hepatic dysfunction
Meperidine pKa, Octanol/H2O partition coefficient, mechanism of action?
Meperidine
- pKa: 8.5 (lower = faster onset)
- Octanol/H2O partition coefficient: 39 (higher = lipophilic)
- Mechanism: weak mu agonist
- Metabolite: normeperidine
- **contraindicated with MAOi
Codeine pKa, Octanol/H2O partition coefficient, mechanism of action?
Codeine
- pKa: 8.2 (lower = faster onset)
- Octanol/H2O partition coefficient: N/A
- Mechanism: weak mu and delta agonist
- Metabolites: morphine, hydrocdone, codeine-6-glucuronide
- **Antitussive, anti-diarrhea, metabolized to morphine for analgesia
Hydrocodone pKa, Octanol/H2O partition coefficient, mechanism of action?
Hydrocodone
- pKa: 8.9 (lower = faster onset)
- Octanol/H2O partition coefficient: N/A
- Mechanism: Mu and kappa agonist
- Metabolites: Dihydrocodeine, hydromorphone
Methadone pKa, Octanol/H2O partition coefficient, mechanism of action?
Methadone
- pKa: 9.3 (lower = faster onset)
- Octanol/H2O partition coefficient: 116 (higher = more lipophilic)
- Mechanism: Mu and delta agonist, NE and 5HT re-uptake inhibitor, NMDA antagonist
- Metabolites: EDDP (inactive)
- **May cause QT prolongation