Agonists and Antagonists

What exactly is the difference between Agonist and Antagonist?

An agonist is a drug that binds to and activates a receptor to mimic the activity of a signal ligand. An antagonist, on the other hand, is a medicine that binds to a receptor without activating it, but reduces the receptor’s ability to be triggered by other agonists.

Agonist

An agonist is a drug that stimulates certain brain receptors. Full agonist opioids completely activate the opioid receptors in the brain, producing the full opioid impact.

Antagonists

Antagonist is the opposite of agonist. An antagonist is a drug that binds to the receptor either at the main location or at another site, preventing the receptor from responding. Antagonist is the polar opposite of agonist. Opioid antagonists prevent opioids from acting in the brain.

Full and partial agonists:

1. Alfentanil
2. Buprenorphine
3. Butorphanol
4. Codeine
5. Diphenoxylate
6. Fentanyl
7. Heroin
8. Hydrocodone
9. Hydromorphone
10. Levorphanol
11. Loperamide
12. Meperidine
13. Methadone
14. Morphine
15. Opium
16. Oxycodone
17. Oxymorphone
18. Pentazocine
19. Remifentanil
20. Sufentanil
21. Tramadol

Opiate antagonists

1. Naldemedine
2. Nalmefene
3. Naloxegol
4. Naloxone
5. Naltrexone