Pethidine as a Narcotic Analgesic - Research Paper Example

There are many different types of medications that are given for a wide variety of conditions, but one common factor is that they are made to affect the nervous system in some form. One drug that is commonly prescribed as an analgesic for pain relief is Pethidine, an opiate. Opiates originate in Asia that are extracted from the poppy plant. This is what gives it its psychoactive properties. The principal effect of the drug is its sedative effect, which makes it an effective central nervous system depressant as well as an analgesic. It has multiple chemical properties that can allow it to be converted into morphine, heroin, etc. This is what gives opiate-based medications the variability required for their many uses in the medical field.

Each method of consumption has a different rate of absorption and thus will have different rates of effect with intravenous being the fastest and most efficient. There is a wide range of side effects that can be encountered with the drug that range from lightheadedness to vomiting as well as but are not limited to headaches, fatigue, moodiness, etc. (Abadinsky, 2011). Pethidine is an opiate. Due to this, it has a specific mechanism of action. Opioids have specific receptors in the body that they interact with.

There are three different types of receptors called mu, kappa, and sigma receptors. The mu receptors are located in the cerebral cortex, thalamus, intestinal tract, and along the spinal column. When opiates interact with these receptors, it causes a release of the GABA neurotransmitter which functions in alleviating any pain felt. The kappa receptors are located in the hypothalamus and along the spinal cord. When an opiate interacts with these receptors, it increases the dopaminergic reward system, which leads to an increase in dopamine, which creates euphoria as well as functions in causing hallucinations.

The last type of receptor, the delta receptor, is located in the amygdala and deep within the cerebral cortex. It functions as relieving pain when these receptors are activated and can lead to respiratory stress if consumed in large quantities (Stahl, 2005). Since Pethidine is a narcotic, it is extremely addictive. This is because it interacts with the dopaminergic reward system increasing levels of dopamine, which is a pleasure-producing molecule. This leads to patterns of tolerance and addiction.

The more often that the drug is taken, the higher the threshold is for the user to reach the desired effect. Therefore, they must take more and more of the drug to satisfy the euphoria. As a result, they develop a biochemical tolerance in which they require the opiate to function at the same level. This is why narcotics and opiates are Schedules I drug due to their high abuse potential and low medicinal value. An important part of prescribing medication is being aware of the drug interactions among different substances.