Kontakt 2006, 8(1):141-145 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2006.023

Narcotic analgesics in contemporary societyBiomedicine

Jan Tröstl, Jiří Patočka^*

Jihočeská univerzita v Českých Budějovicích, Zdravotně sociální fakulta, katedra radiologie a toxikologie

Narcotic analgesics of the group of opiates used as medicines in the presence of pains are characterized by the fact that they induce tolerance leading to necessary permanent escalation of doses required for achieving the analgesic effects. This is associated with side effects, such as central respiratory depression. There is a closely related phenomenon of physical dependence, which particularly occurs in the course of the withdrawal of heroin. In several recent years, our knowledge of the mechanism of the tolerance was essentially extended, but the final conclusion about the importance of single mechanisms studied under in vivo conditions remains unclear.

Keywords: Opiate; analgesic; morphine; codeine; tolerance; physical dependence; toxicity

Published: May 26, 2006  Show citation