HOW OPIOIDS ACTUALLY WORK IN THE BODY (CELLULAR MECHANISM EXPLAINED) │ EP90

About this episode

This episode explains how opioids work in the body, focusing on their cellular mechanisms and effects on pain management.

Welcome to the Atomic Anesthesia podcast hosted by CRNA professor Dr. Rhea Temmermand and Co-Founder Sachi Lord. On this show, you'll hear clear, clinically grounded discussions designed for nurse anesthesia residents and CRNAs who want to feel more confident in complex pharmacology, physiology, and real-world anesthesia decision-making. ⚠️ SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE NEWSLETTER: [ NEWSLETTER SIGN-UP ] In this episode: How opioids produce analgesia by decreasing synaptic transmission in central pain pathways rather than blocking nerve conduction μ, κ, and δ opioid receptor pharmacology and how Gi-coupled GPCR signaling alters calcium, potassium, and cAMP How opioids reduce pain by suppressing ascending nociceptive signaling and enhancing descending inhibitory pathways The physiologic basis of common opioid effects including respiratory depression, sedation, bradycardia, and GI effects 💜 LIVE WEBINAR : Save your seat on our monthly, free webinars. Replays are sent to your inbox and you get access to all of our previous webinars. [ WEBINAR SIGN UP ] 💜 FREE DOWNLOADS : Grab your copy of customized study plans & worksheets. [ SEE/NCE STUDY PLAN ] [ RN ICU DRUG CHART ] 💜 CONNECT : 📥…

People in this episode

Hosts: Rhea Temmermand, Sachi Lord

Topics covered

• opioid pharmacology
• pain management
• anesthesia education
• cellular mechanisms
• nurse anesthesia

Keywords

• opioids
• analgesia
• μ receptor
• κ receptor
• δ receptor
• nociceptive signaling
• GPCR signaling
• respiratory depression
• sedation

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Atomic Anesthesia

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