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Opioid Effects and Classification

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Opioids

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Abstract

This chapter describes the main groups of opioid receptor ligands based on their origin, chemical structure, and pharmacological actions. The first section describes natural, semisynthetic, and synthetic compounds, as well as endogenous opioid peptides and their precursors. The effects of morphine, the opioid prototype, are covered in the second section. The third part reviews the structure-activity relationships of main opioids and provides a short description of the structural characteristics of (a) morphine-like drugs (e.g., codeine and heroin), (b) morphinans (e.g., thebaine), (c) benzomorphans (e.g., pentazocine), (d) phenylpiperidines (e.g., fentanyl), and (e) diphenylheptanes (e.g., methadone). The last section explains the differences in opioid effects based upon differential affinities for constitutively active or inactive receptor subtypes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacobiology, Center for Research and Advanced Studies (Cinvestav), Mexico City, Mexico

    Silvia L. Cruz, Miguel I. Paz-Ramos, Araceli Hernández-Mendoza & César J. Carranza-Aguilar

  2. Opioids Working Group, Global Studies Seminar, Faculty of Medicine, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), Mexico City, Mexico

    Silvia L. Cruz

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  1. Silvia L. Cruz
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Correspondence to Silvia L. Cruz .

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  1. Department of Pharmacobiology, Cinvestav, Mexico City, Mexico

    Silvia L. Cruz

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Cruz, S.L., Paz-Ramos, M.I., Hernández-Mendoza, A., Carranza-Aguilar, C.J. (2022). Opioid Effects and Classification. In: Cruz, S.L. (eds) Opioids. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-09936-6_8

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