Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Clinical Pharmacology & Intro to Prescribing > Session 8: Opioids > Flashcards

Session 8: Opioids Flashcards

1
Q

What is nociception?

A

Non-conscious neural traffic du to trauma or potential trauma to tissue.

An example is withdrawing your hand from a hot plate. A reflexive response.

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

What is pain?

A

A complex, unpleasant awareness of sensation modified by experience, expectation, immedatie context and culture.

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

Explain the mechanism behind pain.

A

A nocireceptor is stimulated and this leads to release of substance P and Glutamate.

The afferent nerve is stimulated and will synapse in the dorsal horn.

Here at the level of the spinal nerve the 2nd order neuron will decussate via the ventral white commissure and then ascend.

2nd order will synapse in the thalamus and a third order neuron will take over and synapse in the primary sensory cortex.

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

Sharp vs dull pain (fibres)

A

Delta fibres are myelinated fibres responsible for sharp pain

C-fibres are demyelinated fibres responsible for dull aching pain.

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

There are two kinds of modulators of pain.

Which?

A

Substantia gelatinosa

Peri aqueductal grey

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

Where is substantia gelatinosa found?

A

Peripherally

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

Where is peri aqueductal grey found?

A

Centrally

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

Explain the substantia gelatinosa role in pain.

A

Tissue damage leads to stimulation of dorsal horn.

It also sends inhibitory signal to substantia gelatinosa.

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

How can the substantia gelatinosa be stimulated?

What effect will this have?

A

You can rub pain better. Rubbing causes stimulation of substantia gelatinosa and leads to reduction of pain.

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

Explain central modulation of pain.

A

Tissue damage sends signal up to the thalamus and the thalamus send stimulatory signal to both cortex and PAG.

Cortex will also send stimulatory signals to PAG.

PAG will then send inhibitory signals back to the spinal cord and dorsal horn by the use of endogenous opioids such as serotonin (5-HT) and Enkephalins which will act on opioid receptors.

This leads to a reduction in pain.

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

Give examples of endogenous opioid receptors.

A

They are GPCRs

μ-receptors (MOP)

δ-receptors (DOP)

K-receptors (KOP)

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

Where can each be found?

A

MOP - supraspinal and GI tract

DOP is in wide distribution

KOP found in spinal cord, brain and periphery.

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

What stimulates each receptor type?

A

MOP - Enkephalins and b-endorphins

DOP - Enkephalins

KOP - Dynorphins

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

Effects of stimulation of MOP

A

Analgesia

Depression

Euphoria

Dependence

Respiratory sedation

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

Effects of stimulation of DOP

A

Analgesia

Inhibition of dopamine

Modulation of MOP

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

Effects of stimulation of KOP

A

Analgesia

Diuresis

Dysphoria

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

Explain the WHO analgesic ladder.

A

Depending on pain you should start at the bottom of the analgesic ladder with giving simple analgesia such as paracetamol or NSAIDs.

If this doesn’t do the trick try weak opioids such as codeine.

If the patient is still in pain give strong opioids such as morphine or fentanyl.

However need to assess pain in each patient, of course you wouldn’t give only NSAIDs to a patient in extensive pain.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

On which receptor do medicinal opioids usually act?

A

MOP

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

Use of opioids

A

Mostly to modulate pain

However can also be used in coughs (codeine in cough syrup), diarrhoea and palliation

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

Give two examples of strong opioid agonists.

A

Morphine

Fentanyl

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

Administration of morphine.

A

Oral (long term)

IV

IM

SC

PR

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

Explain the gut absorption of morphine.

A

It has a significant first pass effect of 40% oral bioavailability.

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

Distribution of morphine.

A

Not very lipophilic

However it does rapidly enter all tissues including foetal.

It does not readily cross the BBB

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

Metabolism of morphine.

A

Morphine conjugates with glucuronic acid to produce the active metabolites M6G and M3G.

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

Effects of the active metabolites of morphine.

A

M6G has an analgesic effect

M3G have neuroexcitatory and euphoric side effects

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

Elimination of morphine.

A

Renally

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

Pharmacodynamics of morphine.

A

Strong affinity for MOP receptors and minimal for KOP and DOP.

They have a complete activation of MOP.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

Actions of morphine.

A

Analgesia

Euphoria

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

Side effects of morphine.

A

Respiratory depression (due to medullary resp centre less responsive to CO2)

Emesis

Constipation

CVS

Miosis (constriction)

Histamine release

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

Administration of fentanyl.

A

IV

Epidural

Intrathecal

Nasal

With an 80-100% bioavaiability

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

Distribution of fentanyl.

A

Highly lipophilic and highly protein bound

It also crosses the BBB readily

32
Q

Metabolism of fentanyl.

A

Hepatically via CYP3A4

33
Q

Elimination of fentanyl.

A

Half life of 6 minutes and renally excreted

34
Q

Why is fentanyl a better option than morphine in kidney disease?

A

Both are excreted via kidneys but fentanyl is excreted less so.

Safer to use in CKD etc…

35
Q

Pharmacodynamics in fentanyl compared to morphine.

A

100x potency in fentanyl and also a high affinity for MOP receptors than morphine.

The higher affinity means less side effects

36
Q

Side effects in fentanyl.

A

Less histamine release, sedation and constipation due to the higher affinity.

However you still get respiratory depression, constipation and vomiting.

37
Q

Give an example of a moderate agonist.

A

Codeine

38
Q

Administration of codeine

A

Usually orally

Can be given subcutaneously as well but that is very rare.

39
Q

Metabolism of codeine.

A

It is a prodrug and is metabolised by CYP2D6 into morphine.

40
Q

How can the amount of morphine that accumulate from codeine be regulated?

A

By inhibition of CYP2D6 by example SSRIs like fluoxetine

41
Q

Why do some people report a lot of side effects of codeine where some people say it barely had any effect?

A

Because there is a variable expression of CYP2D6 in people which means that it can be hard to know if it is going to work and in which doses.

42
Q

Elimination of codeine.

A

Glucoronidation of morphine and renal excretion

43
Q

Pharmacodynamics of codeine compared to morphine.

A

1/10 of potency

44
Q

Actions of codeine

A

Mild to moderate analgesia

Cough depressant

45
Q

Side effects of codeine.

A

Constipation

Respiratory depression

46
Q

What is buprenorphine?

A

A mixed agonist-antagonist (sometimes called a partial agonist)

47
Q

Administration of buprenorphine.

A

Transdermally (patch), buccal, sublingual

48
Q

Distribution of buprenorphine.

A

Highly lipophilic

49
Q

Metabolism of buprenorphine.

A

In liver by CYP3A4 and then glucoronidated before biliary excretion.

50
Q

Elimination of buprenorphine.

A

Mainly biliary but also renally.

This means that it is safe to use in renal impairment.

Also has a long half-life of 37 hours

51
Q

Pharmacodynamics compared to morphine.

A

High affinity of MOP receptors with a very low Kd.

A long duration of action and is not easily displaced, in fact it displaces other opioids such as morphine.

It has however a lower Emax as it is a partial agonist.

Also works as an antagonist for K receptors.

52
Q

Actions of buprenorphine.

A

Moderate to severe pain

Opioid addiction treatment.

53
Q

Side effects of buprenorphine.

A

Respiratory depression

Low BP

Nausea

Dizziness

54
Q

Give an example of an opioid antagonist.

A

Naloxone

55
Q

Administration of naloxone.

A

IV

IM

Intranasal

PO

56
Q

Bioavailability of naloxone.

A

Very low oral bioavailability as it has an extensive first pass effect.

Around 90% is absorbed in the gut but after the first pass effect only around 2% is left to work.

57
Q

Distribution of naloxone.

A

Rapid distribution and highly lipophilic

Also a rapid onset of action.

58
Q

Metabolism of naloxone.

A

Hepatically by glucuronidation

59
Q

Elimination of naloxone.

A

Renally excreted where the duration of action of naloxone is about 30-60 mins.

60
Q

Pharmacodynamics of naloxone compared to morphine.

A

Has a higher affinity for opioid receptors than morphine leading to displacement.

However less affinity than buprenorphine

61
Q

Action of naloxone.

A

Competitive antagonism of opioids.

Means it can be good in overdoses

62
Q

Side effects of naloxone.

A

Short half-life

Slow infusion

63
Q

Why is it important to be aware that the duration of action of naloxone is only 30-60 minutes?

A

Because it means that a drug addict can come into clinic, get naloxone -> they wake up and become conscious and upset that you ruined their high.

They refuse to stay at the hospital and walk away.

After 60 minutes the naloxone wears off and they can go back into overdose again.

64
Q

Give the two broad mechanisms of opioid tolerance.

A

Phosporylation and uncoupling

cAMP production.

65
Q

Explain the normal action of an opioid.

A

An opioid acts on a MOP receptor.

Decreased levels of cAMP and this leads to decreased pain.

66
Q

Explain the effect of phosporylation and uncoupling.

A

Persistent use of an opioid can lead to intracellular phosphorylation which will deactivate the MOP receptor.

Peristent use can also lead to other proteins called arrestins bind to the receptor to uncouple the G protein.

Both of these leads to less of an effect of opioid.

The person now needs more of an opioid to get a similar effect

67
Q

Explain opioid tolerance and cAMP production.

A

When the opioid is bound this leads to less cAMP.

However when the stimulus is then removed more cAMP will be produced to compensate.

This leads to neuronal excitability and the withdrawal symptoms that we see in opioid tolerance.

68
Q

Give examples of withdrawal symptoms.

A

Aggitation

Sweating

Anxiety

Emesis

Diarrhoea

All can be attributed to neuronal excitability

69
Q

Which receptor is mainly responsible for overdose?

A

MOP

70
Q

Most common cause of death due to OD.

A

Respiratory depression

71
Q

OD effects

A

Dependence

Vomiting

Constipation

Hypotension and bradycardia

Decreased sex drive

Miosis

Histamine release

Drowsiness

Respiratory depression

72
Q

Most common tx of OD

A

Naloxone infusion

73
Q

In which people should you be cautious about prescribing opiates?

A

Manual labourers and those who drive for a living

Elderly

Bedbound

Asthmatics (histamine release)

Biliary tract obstruction

Resp disease

Renal impairment

Pregnancy

74
Q

Contraindications of opioids. (when not to give!)

A

Hepatic failure

Acute respiratory distress

Comatose

Head injuries

Raised ICP

75
Q

Explain opioid use in palliative care.

A

Buprenorphine, diamorphine, fentanyl, morphine and oxycodone are all used in palliative care.

They are used to relieve pain and shortness of breath.

However they can have side effects such as nausea and constipation (especially in bed bound)

76
Q

Read the last few pages of the lecture as they give some info on epidemics and how opioids are controlled.

A

Clinical Pharmacology & Intro to Prescribing (24 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions