What health conditions can opioids treat, apart from pain?

Opioids are primarily known for their effectiveness in managing pain, but they also have additional therapeutic applications, including cough suppression. The mechanism by which opioids achieve this is linked to their action on the brain, specifically in the areas that control the cough reflex. By binding to opioid receptors in the brain, opioids can diminish the urge to cough, making them useful in treating conditions where cough suppression is needed, such as severe cough associated with respiratory illnesses.

The other potential answers do not align with common uses of opioids. For example, opioids do not effectively treat allergy symptoms; antihistamines are typically the go-to medications for managing allergies. Similarly, while inflammation can be a component of pain, opioids do not possess anti-inflammatory properties like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) do. Lastly, opioids are not involved in weight management; in fact, they can lead to weight gain or loss as side effects depending on their impact on metabolism and appetite. This reinforces the specificity of opioids in treating pain and cough suppression but not in addressing allergy symptoms, inflammation, or weight management.