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How Do Pain Medications Actually Work?
Les Payne
November 02, 2023
Good Morning! This is The Field Guide to Back and Neck Pain, the newsletter to stay up to date on treatments and symptoms of back pain, neck pain and other chronic pain conditions. Welcome to all new readers! To those that have been here before, thank you, it’s so good to see you again.
Here is what you can expect from today’s edition:
How do Opiate Pain Medications Actually Work?
News: How much sleep do you actually need?
How Do Opiate Pain Medications Actually Work?
Opiate pain medications, work by binding to specific receptors in the brain, spinal cord, and other parts of the body. These receptors are called opioid receptors, and they are normally involved in the modulation of pain, as well as various other physiological processes.
Think of opiate pain medications like a key that fits into specific locks in your body. These "locks" are called opioid receptors, and they're found in your brain and spinal cord. There are several types of opioid receptors, but the most important ones for pain relief are the mu (μ), delta (δ), and kappa (κ) receptors. When the medication, like morphine or oxycodone, enters your system, it acts like a key that fits into these receptors.
When opioids bind to these receptors, they produce a number of effects.
Let’s review some of the effects that opiates cause when they bind to their receptors:
Pain Relief: Opioids primarily act on mu opioid receptors in the central nervous system. Activation of these receptors inhibits the transmission of pain signals, reducing the perception of pain. This is the main reason why opioids are used to treat severe pain. Imagine the opioid medication as a switch that turns down the volume on a pain signal. When it fits into the receptor, it makes the pain signal quieter, so you feel less pain.
Euphoria and Pleasure: Activation of mu receptors can also lead to feelings of euphoria and pleasure, which is one of the reasons why opioids have a high potential for abuse and addiction. Sometimes, when the medication fits into certain receptors, it can make you feel really good, almost like a sense of happiness and relaxation. This is one reason why people might misuse these medications.
Respiratory Depression: Opioid receptors are also present in the brainstem, which controls breathing. Opioid binding to these receptors can can slow down your breathing, which can be dangerous if you take too much.
Constipation: Opioid receptors in the gastrointestinal tract can lead to constipation when activated. These medications make your digestive system slow down. This is a common side effect of opioid medications.
Sedation: Opioids can cause drowsiness and sedation, which is often a desired effect in a clinical setting for managing pain. Opioids can make you feel very sleepy, which can be helpful if you're in pain and need rest.
Tolerance and Dependence:
With continued use, the body can develop tolerance to opioids, requiring higher doses for the same level of pain relief. Prolonged use can also lead to physical dependence, where the body becomes reliant on the drug to function normally.
It's important to note that while opioids are effective at managing pain, their use comes with risks. They are associated with a high potential for abuse and addiction, and their misuse can lead to serious health issues, including overdose. Healthcare providers typically use caution when prescribing opioids and may explore alternative pain management strategies for chronic or non-severe pain conditions.
In recent years, there has been a growing focus on the opioid epidemic, which has highlighted the need for responsible prescribing practices, increased access to addiction treatment, and public awareness of the risks associated with opioid use.
Opioids should be used only as prescribed by a healthcare professional and for the specific purpose they are intended – managing severe pain. Misuse of opioids can lead to addiction and other health problems, so it's important to use them responsibly and under a doctor's guidance.
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About the Author
Les is an invaluable member of the team! He is the Lead Writer for the Field Guide to Back and Neck Pain newsletter. However, Les Payne is just a Pen Name to protect the identity of our expert Lead Writer who is an actively practicing, board-certified expert in the treatment and prevention of back and neck pain as well as other acute and chronic pain conditions. He has years of experience in this field and has treated over 15,000 patients with pain of all kinds!
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