Selective Antagonists
All of the opioid antagonists used in medicine are non-selective, either blocking all three opioid receptors, or blocking the mu-opioid receptor but activating the kappa receptor. However for scientific research selective antagonists are needed which can block one of the opioid receptors but without affecting the other two. This has led to the development of antagonists which are highly selective to one of the three receptors;
- Cyprodime is a selective mu opioid receptor antagonist
- Naltrindole is a selective delta opioid receptor antagonist
- Norbinaltorphimine is a selective kappa opioid receptor antagonist
Other selective antagonists are also known, but the three listed above were the first selective antagonists discovered for each respective opioid receptor, and are still the most widely used.
Read more about this topic: Opioid Antagonist
Famous quotes containing the words selective and/or antagonists:
“The selective memory isn’t selective enough.”
—Blake Morrison (b. 1950)
“There is a persuasion in the soul of man that he is here for cause, that he was put down in this place by the Creator to do the work for which he inspires him, that thus he is an overmatch for all antagonists that could combine against him.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)