Is Conolidine An Opiate?

Companies derive opiates from the Poppy Plant. Conolidine is an analgesic alkaloid much like an opiate, but is does not come from the Poppy Plant. Does this mean that Conolidine is an opiate?

You can find the Conolidine compound in the Crepe Jasmine plant. Conolidine is non-addictive and does not act directly on the GCP receptors like opiates. The literal definition of an opiate is: being derived from or relating to opium. Opium is derived from a singular plant called Papaver somniferum, or Opium Poppy.

So, without doubt, Conolidine is not an opiate as it is not derived from the Opium Poppy.

Treating severe and chronic pain is a very hot button topic. Scientists, practitioners, and consumers are looking for natural compounds that can treat pain. They don’t want them to have the possible nasty side effects generally associated with opiates. This is why, today, we will be delving into this.

The current state of The Opioid Crisis in the United States is a sad, yet perfect example of these proposed negative effects. Opiates are generally very habit forming. We see plenty of effects as a result of addiction. From increasing addiction treatment, overdoses, and even deaths, the effects are scary.

So, is Conolidine an Opiate?

Conolidine is one of the compounds that some suggest in regard to safer methods of treating pain. Ideally, we would be able to treat acute, chronic, breakthrough, and moderate pain with a drug or compound that is non-habit forming, conolidine is not an opioid

In addition, it should not put the patient at risk for overdose, and should be generally regarded as safe (GRAS). 

Conolidine alkaloids may not be opiates, but they do interact with the chemistry that goes along with pain and pain relief. While opiates work directly on opiate receptors like GCPRs, Conolidine is a bit more complex.

Working on opioid peptides, Conolidine has been found to naturally assist in the regulation of pain signals. Additionally, the discovery of a pain receptor known as ACKR3/CXCR7 has shown an affinity for the Conolidine alkaloid. This means that it can potentially assist in alleviating pain in the very same manner as an opiate might. Conolidine does this without triggering other chemical signalers that can increase issues like addiction and dependency.

In summation, no, Conolidine is not an opiate. Conolidine may be a fantastic replacement for opiates. The only correlation is that both relieve pain as we currently understand it on a neurological level.