Psychopharmacology
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Strategies to reduce the misuse of mu opioid agonists are critically needed. Previous work has shown that kappa opioid agonists can diminish the abuse-related effects and augment the antinociceptive effects of mu agonists. However, use of traditional kappa agonists is limited by their dysphoric side effects. ⋯ These results suggest that nalfurafine may augment the thermal antinociceptive effects while reducing the reinforcing and respiratory-depressant effects of oxycodone.