opioid

Medical term Basic Pharmacology

A class of strong pain-relieving drugs derived from opium, which comes from the poppy plant.

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Related terms

painAn unpleasant sensation that usually signals injury or illness.
laxativeA medicine that promotes bowel movements to relieve constipation.
metric systemA decimal measuring system based on units of 10, such as grams, liters and meters.
ointmentA greasy semisolid medication applied to the skin.
onset of actionThe time from giving a drug until it begins to work.
parenteralA route that bypasses the digestive tract, such as an injection.
pharmacodynamicsWhat a drug does to the body: how it acts on receptors and organs to produce effects.
pharmacokineticsWhat the body does to a drug: absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion.
pharmacologyThe study of drugs and their effects on the body.