Drugs {opiate drug} can make people feel exhilarated {euphoriant, opiate} {euphoriogenic, opiate} and energetic and can relieve pain. Natural opiates include opium, codeine, Demerol, heroin, morphine, nepenthe, and thebaine. Synthetic opiates include methadone, fentanyl, and oxycodone. Opiates can cause physical and psychological dependence.
effects
Opiates bind to receptors {mu opiate receptor} in ventral tegmentum area (VTA) in midbrain and nucleus accumbens (NAc) {mesoaccumbens reward system}. Opiates reduce activity in neurons that inhibit dopamine neurons, so VTA dopamine increases and goes to NAc. NAc sends GABAergic effects to other brain areas that affect prefrontal cortex. Opiates block nociceptive system.
endogenous opiates
Body makes endorphin and enkaphalin opiates that reduce pain by releasing or uptaking neurotransmitters.
Biological Sciences>Medicine>Drug>Kinds>Pain>Opiate
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Date Modified: 2022.0224