Pharmacology of Opioids

Pharmacology of Opioids

Understanding buprenorphine's unusual pharmacology is key to safely and effectively prescribing this drug for opioid dependence. This course provides an introductory discussion of buprenorphine's properties, such as its poor oral bioavailability and its high affinity for and slow dissociation from mu receptors. The properties of the buprenorphine and naloxone combination formulation are discussed as well.

Except where otherwise noted, the course content is based upon SAMHSA's 2004 publication Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) #40: Clinical Guidelines for the Use of Buprenorphine in the Treatment of Opioid Addiction. The course was revised and updated for release in April 2008.
Course Need, Goal, Objectives, and Target Audience

Need: Opioid dependence is undertreated. Physicians can now prescribe buprenorphine to treat opioid-dependent patients.

Goal: The learner will understand the pharmacological basis of opioids and buprenorphine.

Objectives: After completing this course you will be able to
  • Identify the functions of the 3 types of opioid receptors (mu, kappa, and delta)
  • Explain the difference between opioid agonists, partial agonists, and antagonists
  • Describe the causes of and interrelationships between opioid tolerance, dependence, and withdrawal
  • Relate buprenorphine's pharmacological properties to its drug effects
  • Relate the pharmacological properties of the buprenorphine/naloxone combination tablet to its physiological effects
Audience: Physicians
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Course Participation

Obtaining CE credit for participation in this course requires that you are logged in, take the pre-test, view the course, take the post-test, satisfaction survey, and then request credit. To receive CE credit, you must answer at least 70% of the post-test questions correctly. When successful, you will be instructed on how to print out a credit statement/CME certificate for your records. Keep track of the amount of time it takes you to complete this course.Each health professional should claim credit only for the time actually spent in the activity. Unless otherwise noted, credit is available at the cost of $15/credit hour. If there is a noticeable discrepancy between credit time claimed and time spent which can not be resolved, we may void the credit. [DETAILS]

To participate in this course, you will need a computer, an Internet connection, and a Web browser, such as Microsoft Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator. This course is best viewed with your monitor resolution at 1024x768 and with Internet Explorer 6.0 and above.[DETAILS]
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Continuing education credits are provided by Clinical Tools, Inc. Please review the Accreditation Details for more information. Initial development of this course was supported by a Grant from National Institute on Drug Abuse, Grant #R44-DA12066

Copyright © 2004-2010 Clinical Tools, Inc.
Accreditation

Credit Type and Hours: [DETAILS]
  • ACCME & DATA toward AMA PRA Category 1 CreditTM for 0.5 hour(s)
ACCME & DATA release: 4/11/08
ACCME & DATA expiration: 4/10/11
Last content review: 10/20/09
Last editorial review: 11/1/09

Sponsored by: Clinical Tools, Inc.
Authors
T. Bradley Tanner, MD
Meghan B. Coulehan, MPH
Acknowledgements

Expert Advisory Panel
Reviewers
Past Authors
Site Development Team
Disclosure

Clinical Tools, Inc. requires that all authors participating in CME development disclose their financial interest or other relationship with the manufacturers of any commercial products and/or providers of commercial services discussed in this educational presentation and with any commercial supporters of this activity.
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