In view of the basic principles of the receptor theory, one should expect all opioids to exhibit principally the same spectrum of effects, as they exert their actions by interaction with "the opiate receptor." Clinical experience shows, however, that the opioids in clinical usage in fact exhibit a variety of spectra of effects. This discrepancy is explained by introducing the "multiple receptor theory," as developed by Gilbert and Martin. This review attempts to class practical clinical consequences with those more recent pharmacological findings.
鉴于受体理论的基本原理，人们应该预期所有阿片类药物主要表现出相同的效应谱，因为它们通过与“阿片受体”相互作用来发挥作用。然而，临床经验表明，临床使用的阿片类药物实际上表现出各种各样的效应谱。吉尔伯特和马丁提出的“多重受体理论”解释了这种差异。这篇综述试图将实际临床后果与那些最新的药理学发现联系起来。
