Abstract
The treatment of severe pain with opioids has thus far been limited by their unwanted central side effects. Recent research promises new approaches, including opioid analgesics acting outside the central nervous system, targeting of opioid peptide-containing immune cells to peripheral damaged tissue, and gene transfer to enhance opioid production at sites of injury.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Review
MeSH terms
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Analgesics, Opioid / metabolism
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Analgesics, Opioid / therapeutic use*
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Animals
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Cell Movement
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Drug Tolerance
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Humans
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Ligands
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Neurons, Afferent / metabolism
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Opioid Peptides / metabolism*
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Opioid Peptides / therapeutic use
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Pain / drug therapy
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Pain / metabolism*
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Pain Management*
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Receptors, Opioid / genetics
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Receptors, Opioid / metabolism
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Signal Transduction / physiology
Substances
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Analgesics, Opioid
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Ligands
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Opioid Peptides
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Receptors, Opioid