Drugs » Opiate analgesics

Opioid Analgesics

Analgesics are divided into two groups,

1. Opioid /Narcotic/Morphine like analgesics.
2. Nonopioid/ Non-narcotic/ Aspirin like /Anti-pyretic or anti inflammatory analgesics.

The dark brown, resinous material obtained from poppy (Papaver somniferum) capsule is called 'Opium'. It contains two types of alkaloids:-

1. Phenanthrene derivatives
   1. Morphine (10% in opium)
   2. Codeine (0.5% in opium)
   3. Thebaine (0.2% in opium), (Nonanalgesics)
2. Benzoisoquinoline derivatives
   1. Papaverine(1%) > Nonalgesic.
   2. Noscapine (6%) (Narcotine)

Classification

1. Natural opium alkaloids: Morphine, Codeine.
2. Semisynthetic Opiates: Diacetylmorphine (Heroin), Pholcodine.
3. Synthetic Opioids: Pethidine, Fentanyl, Methadone, Dextropropoxyphene, Tramadol, Ethoheptazine and Buprenorphine.