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• Nomenclature:

  • "Narcotic" is a somewhat imprecise term because it suggests "narcosis", which is indicated of a somnolent state or "sleepy" state.

  • "Opioid analgesic" and therefore is a more appropriate term emphasizing the clinically important analgesic property which is the pharmacological property of importance in the therapeutic application of these agents. 

    • Accordingly, opioids are used without the expectation that they themselves will cause sleep.  However, opioids are frequently used in combination with anesthetics and in that context anesthesia may be obtained requiring less anesthetic.

• Opioids: Definition---

  • All natural/semisynthetic opium alkaloid derivatives, synthetic agents, and other agents whose opioid-like effects are  blocked by classical opioid antagonists, such as naloxone (Narcan) or naltrexone (ReVia).

• Source:

  • Opium -- from the opium poppy (Papaver somniferum).  

  • Opium is obtained following drying the milky juice from unripe seed pod.  

  • Opium has a characteristic odor and bitter-taste with its chief active ingredient being morphine. Also present are codeine, thebaine (a non-analgesic agent), noscapine and papaverine, a non-analgesic vasodilator.  

  • Tincture of opium is called laudanum. 

  • Tincture is a generic term which refers to an alcohol solution of a nonvolatile medicine. (Paregoric is a mixture of opium, alcohol, and camphor.)

• Classification/Chemistry:

  • Opioid Classification:

    • An opioid full agonist activates opioid receptors, exhibiting high efficacy.  

      • High efficacy refers to a maximal opioid effect, typically pain relief.  

      • Full agonists may have comparable efficacies---the differing potencies meaning that different amounts of one drug compared to another may have to be given in order to achieve a maximal effect.

    • A partial agonist may itself cause agonist effects but because they can displace through competitive action a full agonist from its receptor, the net effect is a reduction in drug effect.  As a result, a partial agonist, depending on circumstance, can act as either in agonist or an antagonist.

    • Antagonists: Pharmacological effects of opioids are mediated by interaction with differing opioids receptor types.  

      • Most of the pharmacological effects as well as side effects, at least respiratory depression, are mediated by opioid-mu receptor interactions.  

        • These agonist-mediated effects may be blocked by competitive inhibition by agents that occupy the the same receptor by do not activate it, yet prevent activation by agonists.  

        • Furthermore, an opioid might be an agonist at one receptor subtype, but only a partial agonist or even in antagonist at another subtype.

    • Examples:

      • Naloxone (Narcan): pure antagonist: no effects normally associated with agonist binding

      • Morphine: full agonist at mu receptor

      • Codeine: partial or "weak" agonist -- less than maximal theoretical effect despite complete receptor saturation

      • Nalbuphine (Nubain)  : agonist at one opioid receptor; antagonist at another

• Chemical substitutions:

  • Partial agonist/antagonist characteristics: replacement of methyl moiety on the nitrogen atom with larger substituents:

    • Allyl substitution-- nalorphine and naloxone

  • Substitutions at the C₃ and C₆ morphine hydroxyl groups (see below)

    • Pharmacokinetic properties altered

    • Methyl substitution at C₃  reduces first-pass hepatic metabolism by glucuronide conjugation: -- as a consequence codeine and oxycodone have a higher oral: parenteral potency

• Acetylation of both morphine hydroxyls = heroin (more rapid access across the blood-brain barrier compared morphine); in the brain heroin is rapidly hydrolyzed to monoacetylmorphine and morphine

• Endogenous Opioid Peptides: The rationale for endogenous opioid peptides came from the idea that opioid receptors are probably present in the body for the purpose of interacting with endogenous or naturally occurring substances.  As a consequence, research proceeded to attempt identification of these naturally occurring substances now known as  ß-endorphins and related peptides.

  • Morphine (and related agents) cause analgesia by acting at the brain regions containing peptides which have opioid-like properties

  • Endogenous substances = endogenous opioid peptides

  • Previous used term "endorphin" now refers to ß-endorphins and related peptides derived from the precursor: prepro-opiomelanocortin

  • Most widely distributed opioid analgesic peptides:

    • pentapeptides

      1. Methionine-enkephalin (met-enkephalin)

         1. 2D and 3D Met-Enkephalin Structure

      2. Leucine-enkephalin (leu-enkephalin)

  • Three major precursor proteins:

    • Prepro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) (contains):

      • Met-enkephalin sequence

      • β-endorphin sequence

      • some nonopioid peptides:

        1. ACTH

        2. β-lipotropin

        3. melanocyte-stimulating hormone

    • Preproenkephalin (proenkephalin A ) (contains):

      • six copies of met-enkephalin

      • one copy of leu-enkephalin

    • Preprodynorphin (proenkephalin B) (contains-- active peptides containing the leu-enkephalin sequence):

      • dynorphin A

      • dynorphin B

      • α and β neoendorphin

  • Endogenous opioid precursors which are localized at pain modulation brain regions are probably released during stress, including pain or pain anticipation.  

    • Also, precursor molecules for endogenous opioids are localized in adrenal medulla and gut neural plexuses

Pharmacokinetics

• Absorption:

  • Opioid analgesics are generally well absorbed by cutaneous/intramuscular/mucosal surfaces

  • Transdermal fentanyl represents an important Route of Administration

  • Gastrointestinal absorption:

    • Some opioids-- subject to first-pass effects:

    • Codeine; oxycodone -- high oral: parenteral potency (protected from conjugation by substitution on C₃ aromatic hydroxyl)

• Distribution:

  • Various extent of plasma protein binding

  • Highest concentrations in tissues will be a  function of perfusion

  • Skeletal muscle represents the largest reservoir

  • For highly lipophilic opioids (e.g. fentanyl), there is significant concentration in adipose tissue

  • Blood Brain Barrier:

    • Amphoteric agents (possessing both an acidic and basic group, e.g. morphine (phenolic hydroxyl at C₃): greatest difficulty for brain entry

    • Other substitutions that C₃ improve blood-brain barrier penetration: e.g., heroin, codeine

    •  Neonatal considerations: neonates lack the blood-brain barrier:

      1. Placental opioid transfer (uses in obstetric analgesia) can result in depressed respiration in the newborn.

• Metabolism:

  • Conversion to polar metabolites; renal excretion

  • Opioids with hydroxyl groups are likely conjugated with glucuronic acid

    • Examples: morphine , levorphanol (Levo-dromoran) 

    • Morphine-6-glucuronide: analgesic potency (perhaps > parent compound morphine)

    • In patients with compromised renal function, accumulation of metabolites occurs which prolongs  analgesia

  • Esters-type opioids are: hydrolyzed by tissue esterases:

    • Examples: heroin, remifentanil (short duration of action)

  • N-demethylation: minor pathway

    • Accumulation of demethylated meperidine (Demerol)  metabolite, normeperidine:

      • Patients with decreased renal function or on high dosages: CNS excitatory effects:

        •   Seizures (more likely in children)

  • Oxidative metabolism (hepatic) primary route of phenylpiperidine opioid metabolism:

    • Fentanyl (Sublimaze)

    • Alfentanil (Alfenta)

    • Sufentanil (Sufenta)

• Excretion:

  • Polar metabolites -- renal; small amounts excreted unchanged

  • Glucuronide conjugates -- bile (enterohepatic circulation minor)

Way, W.L., Fields, H.L. and Way, E. L. Opioid Analgesics and Antagonists, in Basic and Clinical Pharmacology, (Katzung, B. G., ed) Appleton-Lange, 1998, pp 496-515.

Coda, B.A. Opioids, In Clinical Anesthesia, 3rd Edition (Barash, P.G., Cullen, B.F. and Stoelting, R.K.,eds) Lippincott-Ravin Publishers, Philadelphia, New York, 1997, pp 329-358.

Schuckit, M.A. and Segal D.S., Opioid Drug Abuse and Dependence, In Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine 14th edition, (Isselbacher, K.J., Braunwald, E., Wilson, J.D., Martin, J.B., Fauci, A.S. and Kasper, D.L., eds) McGraw-Hill, Inc (Health Professions Division), 1998, pp 2508-2512.

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