PHRM 311 Lecture Notes - Lecture 19: Relative Risk, Benzodiazepine, Diazepam
Document Summary
19. 2 pharmacological actions of common drugs associated with sud (part 1) Opioids act at 3 g-protein coupled receptors: mu ( ), kappa ( ), delta (d) Heroin (diacetylmorphine, which is rapidly metabolized to morphine) Meperidine (more common in health care professionals) All of these cause marked tolerance and physical dependence. Opioid receptors in vta are selectively expressed on gaba neurons. Disinhibition leads to increased release of da. -opioid receptors are expressed on and inhibit da neurons and reduce da release. May explain why -opioid agonists cause euphoria, and agonists induce dysphoria. Triad of coma , miosis , and depressed respiration opioid poisoning. Naloxone (opioid antagonist) reverses morphine or heroin effects within minutes, and can be life-saving in case of huge overdose. Also creates acute withdrawal syndrome in individuals who are physically dependent. Methadone, buprenorphine (long-acting opioid) administered in supervised setting. Relative risk of addiction 4 out of 5. Addiction is rare in individuals receiving opioids for managing (severe) pain.
