What are opioids primarily used for?

Opioids are primarily used for pain relief due to their ability to bind to specific receptors in the brain and spinal cord, significantly altering the perception of pain and the emotional response to it. This mechanism makes them particularly effective for managing acute and chronic pain conditions, which can range from post-surgical recovery to pain associated with cancer or severe injury.

While opioids may occasionally impact sleep indirectly by alleviating pain, they are not primarily used as sleep aids. Similarly, they do not serve as allergy relief medications or anti-inflammatory agents. Other classes of medications are typically employed for those purposes.