New Medications Needed For Neuropathic Pain

As they say in the investigative intelligence world..."no sh*t Sherlock"
---
---
Despite an array of powerful medications available to treat neuropathic
pain, many patients with this increasingly common disorder fail to get
relief from chronic, severe pain, according to an article scheduled for
the May 31 issue of ACS' Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, a bi-weekly
publication.

The article, written by Wyeth Research's John A. Butera, introduces a
series of expert reports on the current status of research and promising
new advances in drug therapy for neuropathic pain. Unlike ordinary pain,
which can be controlled with medications and subsides after the injury
heals, neuropathic pain continues and patients can experience chronic,
debilitating pain that is difficult to treat.

Butera cites the need for new medications, noting that existing drugs
usually provide only a 30 - 50 percent reduction in pain in about 50
percent of patients. "Coupled with this limited efficacy, there are low
levels of compliance [in taking medication] due to intolerable side
effect profiles associated with some of these drugs," the article
states. "These results profoundly illustrate that treatment of
neuropathic pain is a hugely unmet medical need." Butera cites estimates
suggesting that neuropathic pain affects more than 6 million people in
the United States and Europe - plus millions more who have neuropathy as
a complication of diabetes.

ARTICLE #4 "Current and Emerging Targets to Treat Neuropathic Pain"

CONTACT:
John A. Butera, Ph.D.
Wyeth Research CN 8000
Princeton, New Jersey 08543
###

The American Chemical Society - the world's largest scientific society -
is a nonprofit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress and a global
leader in providing access to chemistry-related research through its
multiple databases, peer-reviewed journals and scientific conferences.
Its main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.
Contact: Michael Woods
American Chemical Society

*****Don't Cry Because It's Over, Smile Because It Happened*****

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Marijuana is a useful pain medication
    ... pain, for fear of being red flagged. ... Cannabis Can Reduce Pain ... Francisco General Hospital with 50 patients whose neuropathy was HIV- ... elimination of many prescription medications, ...
    (alt.support.chronic-pain)
  • Re: Off label usage of medicine
    ... "I have had to make decisions about giving patients drugs for ... > TI - Gabapentin for the symptomatic treatment of painful neuropathy ... > patients with diabetes mellitus: ... > monotherapy on pain associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy. ...
    (sci.med)
  • PRN to Chairman Biden
    ... Pain Patients Excluded from Hearings on Prescription Drug Abuse; ... Opioid pain medications have been a Godsend to man for over two ...
    (alt.support.chronic-pain)
  • Re: check it out, this journal has dedicated a whole issue to PAIN!!
    ... I think he looks favorably on the use of opioid pain meds. ... the appropriateness of prescribing opioid medications for noncancer pain. ... patients have the right to such therapies. ...
    (alt.support.chronic-pain)
  • Re: Acupuncture in the US Military
    ... patients and medical staff recently at Landstuhl Regional Medical ... Dr. Conner Nguyen was exposed to acupuncture as both patient ... percent reduction in chronic pain in his shoulders and upper back. ... taking pain medications and experiencing their side effects. ...
    (misc.health.alternative)