An opioidergic agent (or drug) is a chemical which functions to directly modulate the
opioid neuropeptide systems (i.e.,
endorphin
Endorphins (contracted from endogenous morphine) are chemical signals in the brain that block the perception of pain and increase feelings of wellbeing. They are produced and stored in an area of the brain known as the pituitary gland.
Hist ...
,
enkephalin
An enkephalin is a pentapeptide involved in regulating nociception in the body. The enkephalins are termed endogenous ligands, as they are internally derived and bind to the body's opioid receptors. Discovered in 1975, two forms of enkephali ...
,
dynorphin
Dynorphins (Dyn) are a class of opioid peptides that arise from the precursor protein prodynorphin. When prodynorphin is cleaved during processing by proprotein convertase 2 (PC2), multiple active peptides are released: dynorphin A, dynorphin ...
,
nociceptin) in the body or brain. Examples include
opioid
Opioids are substances that act on opioid receptors to produce morphine-like effects. Medically they are primarily used for pain relief, including anesthesia. Other medical uses include suppression of diarrhea, replacement therapy for opioid use ...
analgesics such as
morphine
Morphine is a strong opiate that is found naturally in opium, a dark brown resin in poppies (''Papaver somniferum''). It is mainly used as a pain medication, and is also commonly used recreationally, or to make other illicit opioids. T ...
and
opioid antagonist
An opioid antagonist, or opioid receptor antagonist, is a receptor antagonist that acts on one or more of the opioid receptors.
Naloxone and naltrexone are commonly used opioid antagonist drugs which are competitive antagonists that bind to the ...
s such as
naloxone
Naloxone, sold under the brand names Narcan (4 mg) and Kloxxado (8 mg) among others, is a medication used to reverse or reduce the effects of opioids. It is commonly used to counter decreased breathing in opioid overdose. Effects begin withi ...
. Opioidergics also comprise
allosteric modulators and
enzyme
Enzymes () are proteins that act as biological catalysts by accelerating chemical reactions. The molecules upon which enzymes may act are called substrates, and the enzyme converts the substrates into different molecules known as products ...
affecting agents like
enkephalinase inhibitor
An enkephalinase inhibitor is a type of enzyme inhibitor which inhibits one or more members of the enkephalinase class of enzymes that break down the endogenous enkephalin opioid peptides. Examples include racecadotril, ubenimex (bestatin), RB-1 ...
s.
Allosteric modulators
* BMS-986121: μ-PAM
* BMS-986122: μ-PAM
* Ignavine
*
Oxytocin: μ-PAM
* δ-PAM (see reference)
*
Cannabidiol
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a phytocannabinoid discovered in 1940. It is one of 113 identified cannabinoids in cannabis plants, along with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and accounts for up to 40% of the plant's extract. , clinical research on CBD in ...
*
Tetrahydrocannabinol
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the principal psychoactive constituent of cannabis and one of at least 113 total cannabinoids identified on the plant. Although the chemical formula for THC (C21H30O2) describes multiple isomers, the term ''THC' ...
*
Sodium
Sodium is a chemical element with the symbol Na (from Latin ''natrium'') and atomic number 11. It is a soft, silvery-white, highly reactive metal. Sodium is an alkali metal, being in group 1 of the periodic table. Its only stable ...
(Na
+)
See also
*
List of opioids
This is a list of opioids, opioid antagonists and inverse agonists.
Opium and poppy straw derivatives
Crude opiate extracts whole opium products
* B&O Supprettes
* Diascordium
*Dover's powder
* Kendal Black Drop
*Laudanum
*Mithridate
*Op ...
*
Adenosinergic
Adenosinergic means "working on adenosine".
An adenosinergic agent (or drug) is a chemical which functions to directly modulate the adenosine system in the body or brain. Examples include adenosine receptor agonists, adenosine receptor antagonists ...
*
Adrenergic
Adrenergic means "working on adrenaline (epinephrine) or noradrenaline (norepinephrine)" (or on their receptors). When not further qualified, it is usually used in the sense of enhancing or mimicking the effects of epinephrine and norepinephrine ...
*
Cannabinoidergic
Cannabinoidergic, or cannabinergic, means "working on the endocannabinoid neurotransmitters". As with terms such as dopaminergic and serotonergic, related proteins and cellular components involved endocannabinoid signaling, such as the cannabi ...
*
Cholinergic
Cholinergic agents are compounds which mimic the action of acetylcholine and/or butyrylcholine. In general, the word " choline" describes the various quaternary ammonium salts containing the ''N'',''N'',''N''-trimethylethanolammonium cati ...
*
Dopaminergic
*
GABAergic
*
Glycinergic
A glycinergic agent (or drug) is a chemical which functions to directly modulate the glycine system in the body or brain. Examples include glycine receptor agonists, glycine receptor antagonists, and glycine reuptake inhibitors.
See also
* Adenos ...
*
Histaminergic
Histaminergic means "working on the histamine system", and histaminic means "related to histamine".
A histaminergic agent (or drug) is a chemical which functions to directly modulate the histamine system in the body or brain. Examples include his ...
*
Melatonergic
A melatonergic agent (or drug) is a chemical which functions to directly modulate the melatonin system in the body or brain. Examples include melatonin receptor agonists and melatonin receptor antagonists.
See also
* Adenosinergic
* Adrenergi ...
*
Monoaminergic
Monoaminergic means "working on monoamine neurotransmitters", which include serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, epinephrine, and histamine.
A monoaminergic, or monoaminergic drug, is a chemical, which functions to directly modulate the ser ...
*
Serotonergic
Serotonergic () or serotoninergic () means "pertaining to or affecting serotonin". Serotonin is a neurotransmitter. A synapse is serotonergic if it uses serotonin as its neurotransmitter. A serotonergic neuron ''produces'' serotonin. A substance is ...
References
Neurochemistry
Neurotransmitters
Opioids
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