Cleveland Clinic Doctor Discusses FDA Approval of New Non-Opioid Pain Medication
CLEVELAND, OH — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved suzetrigine, a new non-opioid pain medication that could provide an alternative to traditional opioid treatments. This decision comes as the country continues to grapple with the opioid crisis, which claims thousands of lives each year due to overdoses.
Dr. Jianguo Cheng, a pain management specialist at the Cleveland Clinic, was not involved in the drug's research but recognizes its potential. "Eighty million people suffer from acute pain, whether from surgery, trauma, or other injuries. And the current mainstream treatment is opioids. You can use NSAIDs and other medications, but usually, it’s not as effective. So therefore, this really is a new class of drug," Cheng said.
Suzetrigine works by targeting a pain-signaling pathway in the peripheral nervous system, similar to how antidepressants and anti-seizure medications operate in the central nervous system. The drug is considered non-addictive, a critical distinction from opioids, which have led to widespread dependency and overdose issues.
The medication is expected to be prescribed primarily to patients experiencing acute pain following surgery or trauma. While suzetrigine is not intended to replace opioids entirely, it may serve as an alternative for patients who would otherwise require weaker opioid treatments. "Maybe not as good as a strong opioid, but it does bridge the gap between no opioid, a weak opioid, and strong opioids. This is something in-between that can be applicable for a large number of patients," Cheng explained.
Common side effects of suzetrigine include itching, muscle spasms, and rash.
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