F.D.A. Approves a Pain Reliever That Blocks Nerve Channels
“When you’ve taken all the kinds of pain medication that there is and you still have pain, that is a very frightening situation,” said Dr. Lars Ekman, president of research and development for Elan, which is based in Dublin. “When you have that kind of pain, there is nowhere to go.”
The drug is part of a new class known as N-type calcium channel blockers. It is known chemically as ziconotide.
The Food and Drug Administration approved the drug for patients who no longer receive relief from morphine and have moved to the next level of treatment, which involves a pump that delivers medicine directly to the area around the spine.
Prialt has been studied in patients with cancer, AIDS and other afflictions that produce chronic pain. More than 1,200 patients took part in three clinical trials.
There are side effects, and the F.D.A. said it would require its strongest warning to appear with the drug. Side effects may include dizziness, drowsiness and altered mental status, with patients confused at times.
This drug is approved for severe intractable pain. The side effects are clear and serious. This is the “court of last resort”. For that indication, its use may be compassionate.
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1 Response to Uncontrollable pain
J Bowen
December 29th, 2004 at 11:30 pm
I can’t tell you where, but some time back I thought I’d heard of hypnotic or other such means of overcoming chronic pain. Do you know if there’s anything to this?