A transgenic mouse model helps researchers uncover a recipe for painlessness. The findings could help those who suffer from chronic pain conditions.
Researchers discover how sodium influences the signalling of opioid receptors.
Using cryoEM technology, researchers have decoded the detailed structures of an entire family of opioid receptors bound to their naturally occurring peptides. This new structural framework should help in the development of safer, more effective medications to treat chronic pain.
Opioid withdrawal cuts off the supply of serotonin to the nucleus accumbens, dramatically reducing sociability in mice and increasing social aversion.
Researchers uncover how laughter releases endorphins in the brain.
Researchers report on lower numbers of fatal car crashes involving opioids since medical marijuana laws have been passed in some states.
Centralized sensation, or abnormal pain processing in the brain and spinal cord, may be an important underlying factor complicating the treatment of chronic pain in those with opioid use disorder.
A white paper from the NIH reports little to no evidence for the effectiveness of opioid drugs in treating long term chronic pain.
Researchers look at why suicide rates may be on the rise in the US, finding suicidality may be more than simply a mental health issue.
Inflammation caused by opioid use to both the brain and gut may exacerbate symptoms of negative emotions associated with withdrawal. Targeting the inflammation could help alleviate the negative experiences of opioid withdrawal and prevent dependence.
Researchers have discovered chemical circuits and mechanisms in the brain that separate food consumption from cravings.
Study explores the role the reward system plays in chronic pain, finding emotional and physical pain are bidirectional. Opioids, researchers report, ultimately make things worse.
