An opioid is a chemical
substance that has a
morphine-like action in the body. The main use is for
pain relief. These agents work by binding to
opioid receptors, which are found principally in the
central nervous system and the
gastrointestinal tract. The receptors in these two organ systems mediate both the beneficial effects, and the undesirable
side effects. There are a number of broad classes of narcotics: natural opioids,
alkaloids contained in the resin of the
opium poppy including
morphine,
codeine,
thebaine, and
oripavine;semi-synthetic opioids, created from the natural opioids, such as
hydromorphone,
hydrocodone,
oxycodone, and
heroin;fully synthetic opioids, such as
fentanyl,
pethidine,
methadone, and
propoxyphene;
endogenous opioid
peptides, produced naturally in the body, such as
endorphins,
enkephalins,
dynorphins, and
endomorphins.
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