Opium and Its Alkaloids

PROLOGUE This manuscript reviews the history and pharmacognosy of opium, and describes the chemistry, pharmacology, and therapeutic uses of the major opium alkaloids. An abbreviated form of the material found in this paper is presented in a threehour lecture format to third year PharmD students as part of their study of analgesics and related compounds in the modular offering entitled Neurology/Psychiatry (Pharm 5319). Students at the University of Pittsburgh receive an introduction to pharmacognosy and natural products during their first professional year in an introductory course in Drug Development (Pharm 5119). The role of natural products as both historical and continuing sources of drugs, as well as sources of precursors for semisynthetic modification and sources of probes for yet undiscovered drug moieties, is emphasized. This curricular dialog with pharmacognosy and natural products continues in courses in the second professional year [Pharmacotherapy of Infectious Disease 1 and 2 (Pharm 5214, 5215), Cardiology (Pharm 5216), Critical Care (Pharm 5221)] and the third professional year [Oncology (Pharm 5315), [Pulmonology/Rheumatology (Pharm 5316), Neurology/Psychiatry (Pharm 5319)].