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Next generation of everyday analgesics
1University of Erlangen, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Erlangen, Germany. brune@pharmakologie.uni-erlangen.de
American Journal of Therapeutics
|April 10, 2002
Summary
Pain relief has evolved from natural opioids and salicylates to synthetic analgesics. While new targeted pain relief drugs show promise, traditional compounds remain vital for everyday pain management.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Medicinal Chemistry
- Pain Management
Background:
- Pain is a primary disease symptom, historically managed with natural opioids and salicylates.
- 19th-century scientific advancements isolated morphine and salicylic acid, leading to synthetic analgesics like aspirin and acetaminophen.
- Analgesics are broadly classified into opioids and antipyretic analgesics (aspirin-derived NSAIDs and nonacidic antipyretics).
Observation:
- Extensive chemical modifications and screening yielded numerous analogs but did not replace early 20th-century drugs.
- Recent advances in molecular biology and genomics introduced target-selective pain relief agents.
- These include selective cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 inhibitors, cannabinoid receptor modulators, and ion channel blockers.
Findings:
- Despite advancements, many novel selective pain relief compounds have not proven effective in clinical practice.
- Selective cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 inhibitors show potential but their superiority in routine pain treatment is debated.
- Current clinical use of selective COX-2 inhibitors faces ongoing scrutiny regarding efficacy and safety.
Implications:
- The development of analgesics highlights a long history of innovation in pain management.
- Despite new technologies, established pain relief medications remain foundational.
- Further research is needed to validate the long-term benefits and safety of novel pain therapeutics.