How do opiate agonists block pain compared to an NSAID?

Question

Just want to know if I'm on the right track, for any med students out there.

Answer 1

I haven't been a med student since 1989 :) but I treat pain daily as a practicing anesthesiologist.

Opiates work by activation of opiate receptors. There are (I think) 6 different varieties of receptors, and different drugs work on different combinations of receptor types. The mu-receptor is the most common. Activation of opiate receptors is responsible for pain relief, but also for the side effects of respiratory depression, itching, sedation and nausea.

NSAIDS work by a completely different mechanism, which is by blocking cyclooxygenase, and thus the formation of prostaglandins and thromboxane. Some prostaglandins are the mediators that cause pain, fever, swelling and inflammation. Blocking their formation reduces these sequelae.

Answer 2

Actually the NSAID (non steroid anti-inflammatory) is not a pain blocker , it reduces inflammation sooooo, the pressure on the nerves is reduced.
I believe the opiate tricks the brain into ignoring the pain but any inflammation is still there.

But check medicinenet

http://www.medicinenet.com/medications/article.htm