Opoid Analgesics

Opioid Analgesics Opium is the natural extract obtained from the juice of the poppy flower, Papaver somniferum and is composed of over 20 different alkaloids. "Opiate" is a term used to describe all drugs derived from opium. Because this excludes all synthetic compounds or endogenous analogues the term "opioid" has evolved to be all encompassing. Hence Opioid Analgesics refers to all compounds both natural or synthetic that have similar pharmacological properties to opiates. They are the …

…opioids can lead to the onset of a coma due to the sedative effects of the drug but also due to the ability of the drugs to suppress ventilation. This can be treated effectively by the use of opioid antagonists such as naloxone. Care must be taken however as the antagonists are equally capable of initiating the withdrawal process. Antagonists are also used to therapeutically to reverse respiratory depression that occurs post-operatively or in obstetrics.