Opioids— What are opioids?

Opioids—
What are opioids?

Opioids are medications that
relieve pain. They reduce
the intensity of pain signals
reaching the brain and affect
those brain areas controlling
emotion, which diminishes the
effects of a painful stimulus.
Medications that fall within
this class include hydrocodone
(e.g., Vicodin), oxycodone (e.g.,
OxyContin, Percocet), morphine
(e.g., Kadian, Avinza), codeine,
and related drugs. Hydrocodone
products are the most commonly
prescribed for a variety of painful
conditions, including dental and
injury-related pain. Morphine

is often used before and after
surgical procedures to alleviate
severe pain. Codeine, on the other
hand, is often prescribed for mild
pain. In addition to their painrelieving
properties, some of these
drugs—codeine and diphenoxylate
(Lomotil) for example—can be
used to relieve coughs and severe
diarrhea.