Pain Killer List of Terms - Glossary

Agonist
A drug or medication that can interact with receptors to stimulate drug actions or effects.

Full opioid agonist:
A drug or medication that stimulates activity at opioid receptors in the brain that are normally stimulated by naturally occurring opioids. Examples of full opioid agonists include morphine, methadone, oxycodone, hydrocodone, heroin, codeine, meperidine, propoxyphene, and fentanyl.

Partial opioid agonist:
A drug or medication that can both activate and block opioid receptors, depending on the clinical situation. Under appropriate conditions, partial agonists can produce effects similar to those of either agonists or antagonists. Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist.

Antagonist
A drug or medication that prevents molecules of other drugs/medications from binding to a receptor (eg, an opioid receptor). Antagonists can also displace other opioids and can precipitate withdrawal, or block the effects of other opioids. Examples of antagonists include naltrexone and naloxone.

C

Compulsive
The type of behavior a person exhibits that is overpowering, repeated, and often irrational.

Craving
The intense desire for something (also called "psychologic dependence").

D

Dependence (physical or psychological)
As a general term, the state of needing or depending on something or someone for support or to function or survive. As applied to alcohol and other drugs, the term implies a need for repeated doses of the drug to feel good or to avoid feeling bad. In the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, or DSM-IV, dependence is defined as "a cluster of cognitive, behavioral and, physiologic symptoms that indicate a person has impaired control of psychoactive substance use and continues use of the substance despite adverse consequences."

Being compelled to keep using a drug—even when you realize that you have a physical or psychological problem that is probably caused or made worse by the drug.

Dopamine
A naturally occurring chemical that helps to cause feelings of pleasure in the brain. Opioid agonists stimulate dopamine activity.

E

Euphoria
A feeling of pleasure or of being "high."

I

Induction
The first phase of treatment, when SUBOXONE is given to ease a person's withdrawal symptoms. Induction usually lasts 1 to 5 days.

M

Maintenance:
The phase of treatment when the person is taking a stable dose and working with a physician or counselor to address other issues affecting his/her dependence and ability to rebuild his/her life.

O

Opioid dependence
A chronic brain disease that involves a physical, psychological, and behavioral need for an opioid drug. This need is unrelated to medical necessity for pain relief.

Opiate
A drug created directly from opium or a naturally occurring substance, such as a hormone, that has sedative or narcotic effects similar to those of opium. Morphine and codeine are both opiates.

Opioid
A drug with opiumlike qualities, which means that it reduces pain, causes relaxation or sleepiness, and carries an addictive potential. Opioids may be either:

Derived from opiates or
Chemically related to opiates or opium.
Opioids include some prescription painkillers, such as oxycodone and hydrocodone. Buprenorphine, methadone, and heroin are also opioids.

Opioid receptors
Specific places in the brain where molecules of opioid drugs or medications attach and exert their effect.

Overdose
When a chemical substance is taken in quantities or concentrations that are large enough to overwhelm the body, causing life-threatening illness or death.

P

Physical dependence
Chronic opioid use causes the mu-opioid receptors in the brain to become less sensitive (ie, tolerant) to opioid stimulation. This state of adaptation is also manifested by an opioid-specific withdrawal syndrome that can be produced by the abrupt cessation of use/rapid dose reduction, decreasing blood levels of the drug, and/or the adminstration of an opioid agonist. Chronic use of opioids will generally lead to physical dependence in all patients.

Precipitated withdrawal
Withdrawal symptoms that result when one drug displaces another drug from the receptor, and the drug has no or less effect than the drug it displaced. When SUBOXONE is given before you are in mild-to-moderate withdrawal from the opioid you have already taken, it can cause withdrawal to occur more rapidly and intensely.

Psychological dependence
A primary, chronic, neurobiological condition characterized by 1 or more of the following: impaired control over drug use (ie, compulsive use), continued use despite harm, cravings.

R

Respiratory failure
When a person stops breathing.

S

Stigma
Something that takes away from the character or reputation of a person or group; a symbol of disgrace.

T

Tolerance
A decrease in response to a drug dose that occurs with continued use. An increase in the dose of a drug is required to achieve the effects originally produced by lower doses.

Triggers
Activities, sounds, places, people, images, events, or other things that can cause a dependent person to want to have the pleasurable feeling of the misused drug or medication again. Triggers can bring on cravings.

W

Withdrawal
The uncomfortable symptoms (such as pain, cramps, vomiting, diarrhea, anxiety, sleep problems, cravings) that develop when a person stops taking a drug or medication on which he or she has become dependent.