Intro to Opioids

Opiate vs Opioid

Generally speaking opiates, opioids, and narcotics are all prescribed to do the same job, relieve pain. These drugs travel through your blood to the opioid receptors in your cells which then send signals that dull your feelings of pain and elevate your feelings of pleasure. Currently, the term opioids is commonly used to refer to all natural and synthetic forms of painkillers although there are different terms for each type.

Traditionally, opiates are substances that are natural and come from opium. Opium comes from the opium poppy and contains chemical compounds such as codeine and morphine. Thus, these drugs are opiates because they occur naturally.

Opiods are non-naturally occuring versions of opiates aka synthetic- opiates. They work the same way that opiate drugs work; by attacting itself to the opiate receptor. Examples of these include fentanyl and methadone.

Sources for this Post:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/what-are-opioids/expert-answers/faq-20381270

http://info.iwpharmacy.com/opiate-opioid-narcotic-whats-the-difference