NURS 2004 Chapter Notes - Chapter 28: Itch, Central Nervous System, Dynorphin
28 Jan 2017
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Analgesics are drugs that relieve pain without causing loss of consciousness. Opioid is a general term used for any drug, natural or synthetic, that has actions similar to those of morphine. Opiate is more specific and applies only to compounds present in opium (morphine and codeine) Narcotic has been used to mean an analgesic, a central nervous system (cns) depressant, and any drug capable of causing physical dependence. Narcotic has also been used in a legal context to designate not only the opioids, but also such diverse drugs as cocaine, marijuana, and lysergic acid diethylamide (lsd). Because of its more precise definition, opioid is clearly preferable to narcotic as a label for a discrete family of pharmacologic agents. The body has 3 families of peptides (1) enkephalins, (2) endorphins, and (3) dynorphins that have opioid like properties. Can be found in cns and peripheral tissues. The three main classes of opioid receptors are designated mu, kappa, and delta.
