What is an agonist and how does it work to treat opiate dependence?
An agonist binds to a specific receptor in the brain and triggers a brain cell response. It mimics the action of another substance such as heroin that binds to the same receptor. A full agonist has an affinity for and binds with a receptor to activate it, displacing the other medication at that receptor. Methadone is a full agonist that acts on the brain’s opioid receptors to fill those receptors and block the effects of other opiates. A partial agonist also binds with and activates a given receptor, but is only partially effective at the receptor. Buprenorphine is a partial agonist but it also has antagonist actions to opioids. Partial agonists limit the potential for overdose, increasing their safety and may make withdrawal from opiates easier for patients. Although opiate agonists are useful in treating opiate dependence when combined with appropriate counseling and psycho-social treatment, they also can be abused.
Related Questions
- How does regulation of medications used to treat opiate dependence differ from regulation of other medications in general or when these special medications are used to treat pain?
- Is using medications to treat opiate dependence simply replacing one addiction with another?
- What is an agonist and how does it work to treat opiate dependence?
