Opioids slot into opioid receptors and activate them. This sends signals to your brain to relieve pain and promote pleasure. Both endogenous opioids, which your body naturally produces, and exogenous ...

Agonists vs. antagonists. (A) An unoccupied opioid receptor embedded in a cellular membrane. (B) An opioid receptor is bound to a natural agonist, for example, morphine. The drug binds causing a ...

Drugs that target opioid receptors sometimes have severe side effects. Thousands of people around the world die every day from overdoses involving opioids such as fentanyl. Researchers have taken a ...

Researchers at Rice University have revealed a previously unknown function of opioid receptors in the development of the enteric nervous system (ENS), often referred to as the "brain in the gut." This ...

Researchers at Rice University have revealed a previously unknown function of opioid receptors in the development of the enteric nervous system (ENS), often referred to as the “brain in the gut.” This ...

Opioids are not stimulants. They are a class of medications primarily used for pain relief. Opioids and stimulants are two different classes of medications that address different needs. Doctors ...

I am a PhD candidate at the University of Southern California, studying opioid receptors under Dr. Cornelius Gati. My thesis work addresses the molecular mechanisms of opioid receptor function and how ...

A cross-country research team has identified a promising approach to improving the life-saving function of naloxone (Narcan), a drug used to reverse opioid overdose. The researchers published their ...

Overdose deaths are a widespread problem North Carolinians have been struggling to combat in recent years. According to the state health department, American Indian/Indigenous and Black communities ...