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Opioids and the gut: pharmacology and current clinical experience
Author(s) -
De Schepper H. U.,
Cremonini F.,
Park M.I.,
Camilleri M.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
neurogastroenterology and motility
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.489
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1365-2982
pISSN - 1350-1925
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2982.2004.00513.x
Subject(s) - medicine , opioid , receptor , ileus , pharmacology , visceral pain , opiate , irritable bowel syndrome , nociception
This article reviews the pharmacology and physiology of opiate receptors and the current and potential uses of opioid agonists and antagonists in clinical gastroenterology. μ‐receptors are involved in motor and sensory functions, and their modulation is established for treatment of diarrhea. μ‐antagonists have potential to reverse endogenous (e.g., postoperative ileus) or iatrogenic dysmotility (e.g., opioid bowel dysfunction). Modulation of the function of κ‐receptors may be a novel approach to control visceral pain in functional gut disorders. Results of formal testing of novel opioid modulators are keenly awaited.