ANOTHER NEW PAIN DRUG

It's new.

Still not in clinical trials.

But promising.

A new opioid drug is being touted as a remedy for those in chronic pain without the side effects. The drug is labeled UMB 425 and is still being tested before beginning phase one clinical trials.  A team of researchers is headed by Andrew Coop, PhD and chair of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy. 

The new drug is as strong as morphine but no toxic effects and because it works on two opioid receptors it can be used over a longer period of time without the body building a tolerance to it and at lower doses.

Some of the adverse effects can be nausea, constipation, drowsiness, dizziness and itchiness among others. Also, a tolerance can be built so it takes larger doses to receive the same amount of pain relief.

OK. 

But that leads me to another question.

What about abuse?

Right now it's hard enough to get medication for chronic pain. Even if this new drug ends up getting approval how will it be administered? 

I just think it should be a priority to make some of these drugs abuse deterrent. People shouldn't have to be in pain and they shouldn't have trouble getting the proper medication prescribed. 

Take the case of Nabilone. This is a synthetic cannabanoid that is used to treat nausea in chemotherapy patients. Off label it has shown promise in treating pain in Fibromyalgia. Not that you can get it, mind you. 

Well, maybe if you're in Colorado.

All I know is that too many people live in pain.

And they shouldn't have to.