Drugs & Medication

The term opiate refers to the alkaloids found in opium, an extract from the seed pods of the opium poppy (Papaver somniferum L.). It has also traditionally referred to natural and semi-synthetic derivatives of morphine. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to all drugs with opium- or morphine-like pharmacological action, which are more properly classified under the broader term opioid.

The main opiates derived from opium are morphine, codeine and thebaine. Papaverine and noscapine are also present, but have essentially no effect on the central nervous system, and are not usually considered to be opioids. Papaveretum is a standardised preparation of mixed opium alkaloids used on cardiac patients.