Scientists improve the analgesic efficacy of morphine

Scientists at the Department of Cell Biology of the University of Malaga have taken a step forward in the search for more effective treatments for pain with a new study that advances efforts to mitigate the addictive effects of morphine—one of the main drugs used for this purpose—as well as the development of analgesic tolerance to the drug.

Specifically, they identified that activation of a dopamine receptor, D4, enhances morphine's analgesic effect and prevents the development of tolerance to morphine.

The results of the study were published in The Journal of Pain. ...