Nalbuphine: Pharmacology Revisited

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Published: Mar 4, 2025
Keywords:
nalbuphine, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics

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Somchai Amornyotin
Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand

Abstract

Nalbuphine is a synthetic opioid analgesic with a unique profile as a mixed agonist- antagonist. It acts as an antagonist at the mu-opioid receptor and an agonist at the kappa-opioid receptor, providing effective analgesia for moderate to severe pain while minimizing common opioid-related side effects such as respiratory depression, nausea, and pruritus. Notably, nalbuphine has a lower potential for dependence and abuse compared to traditional mu-opioid agonists. Its pharmacological properties make it a valuable option in various clinical settings, including labor analgesia and the management of opioid-induced pruritus.

Article Details

Issue
Vol. 51 No. 2 (2025): March-April
Section
Editorials
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

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