OPIOID

Opioid

An opioid is any psychoactive chemical that resembles morphine or other opiates in its pharmacological effects. Opioids work by binding to opioid receptors, which are found principally in the central and peripheral nervous system and the gastrointestinal tract. The receptors in these organ systems mediate both the beneficial effects and the side effects of opioids.

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opioid

Noun

  1. A substance that is like opium.
  2. Any of the natural substances, such as an endorphin, released in the body in response to pain.
  3. Any of a group of synthetic compounds that exhibit similarities to the opium alkaloids that occur in nature.


The above text is a snippet from Wiktionary: opioid
and as such is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

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