List of opioids

Opioids are a class of drugs that include the illegal drug heroin, synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, and pain relievers available legally by prescription, such as oxycodone (OxyContin®), hydrocodone (Vicodin®), codeine, morphine, and many others. These drugs are chemically related and interact with opioid receptors on nerve cells in the body and brain. Opioid pain relievers are generally safe when taken for a short time and as prescribed by a doctor, but because they produce euphoria in addition to pain relief, they can be misused.

List of Opioids

Natural Opioids

• Morphine - A potent opiate analgesic drug that directly affects the central nervous system to decrease the feeling of pain.
• Codeine - A less potent opioid used to treat mild to moderate pain and to relieve cough.

Semi-Synthetic Opioids

• Hydrocodone - An opioid pain medication used to treat severe pain of a prolonged duration, if other measures are not sufficient.
• Oxycodone - A semi-synthetic opioid synthesized from thebaine, used for managing moderate to severe acute or chronic pain.
• Heroin - An opioid most commonly used as a recreational drug for its euphoric effects.

Synthetic Opioids

• Fentanyl - A powerful synthetic opioid that is similar to morphine but is 50 to 100 times more potent.
• Methadone - A synthetic opioid used for opioid maintenance therapy in opioid dependence and for chronic pain management.
• Tramadol - A synthetic opioid used to treat moderate to moderately severe pain.

See Also

• Opioid epidemic
• Opioid use disorder
• Opioid overdose
• Opioid withdrawal