Attacking pain at its source: new perspectives on opioids.
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.
Stein
Christoph
C
Klinik für Anaesthesiologie und Operative Intensivmedizin, Freie Universität Berlin, Klinikum Benjamin Franklin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12200 Berlin, Germany. christoph.stein@medizin.fu-berlin.de
Schäfer
Michael
M
Machelska
Halina
H
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D002465:Cell Movement; D004361:Drug Tolerance; D006801:Humans; D008024:Ligands; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000378:metabolism; D018847:Opioid Peptides / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D059408:Pain Management; D011957:Receptors, Opioid / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D008024:Ligands; D018847:Opioid Peptides; D011957:Receptors, Opioid