The diverse clinical uses of opioid receptor drugs.

Opioid receptors are widely distributed throughout the nervous system. In addition to their central role in brain pathways mediating pain, endogenous opioid peptides function as neuromodulators and opioid systems are involved in many physiological functions. Opioid receptor drugs, including methadone (Dolophine), buprenorphine (Buprenex, Subutex), naltrexone (Revia), naloxone (Narcan), and buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone), are the focus of this article. This class of drugs is likely to be further developed for the treatment of addictions and mood disorders.