Abstract
In the heated discourse about the pros and cons of opioids, it is not uncommon to have them discussed as if there are no significant differences among them (except perhaps on the basis of potency, viz., the piperidine fentanyl and its structural analogs such as alfentanil, carfentanil, sufentanil, etc.). It thus seems timely and appropriate to reassess this perception. There are at least three “atypical” opioids approved for clinical use, and another in development, that in one way or another display a more favorable clinical profile than do the “typical” opioids such as morphine, oxycodone, etc.