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Related Concept Videos

Analgesia and Pain Management01:25

Analgesia and Pain Management

Pain is critical to various clinical pathologies, provoking an urgent need for effective management. Pain, whether acute or chronic, is a complex neurochemical process. Its alleviation depends on the type, with nonopioid analgesics effective for mild to moderate pain, such as musculoskeletal or inflammatory pain, while neuropathic pain responds best to anticonvulsants, tricyclic antidepressants, or serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. For severe acute or chronic pain, opioids may be...
Nociception01:44

Nociception

Nociception—the ability to feel pain—is essential for an organism’s survival and overall well-being. Noxious stimuli such as piercing pain from a sharp object, heat from an open flame, or contact with corrosive chemicals are first detected by sensory receptors, called nociceptors, located on nerve endings. Nociceptors express ion channels that convert noxious stimuli into electrical signals. When these signals reach the brain via sensory neurons, they are perceived as pain. Thus, pain helps the...
Opioid Analgesics: Synthetic and Semisynthetic Opioids01:15

Opioid Analgesics: Synthetic and Semisynthetic Opioids

Synthetic and semisynthetic opioids are pivotal in pain management and tackling opioid addiction. Semisynthetic opioids, including morphinans (morphine derivatives), oxycodone, oxymorphone, hydrocodone, and hydromorphone, have improved pharmacokinetic profiles compared to morphine. Additionally, heroin and 6-MAM (6-Monoacetylmorphine) show better CNS penetration than morphine due to heightened lipid solubility. Hydromorphone, a potent opioid, undergoes hepatic metabolism to form the active...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 24, 2026

A Randomized, Sham-Controlled Trial of Cranial Electrical Stimulation for Fibromyalgia Pain and Physical Function, Using Brain Imaging Biomarkers
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Advancements in pain research.

Z David Luo1

  • 1Department of Anesthesiology & Perioperative Care, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA. zluo@uci.edu

Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)
|February 22, 2012
PubMed
Summary

Pain research is accelerating, driving more clinical trials for neuropathic pain treatments. Despite advances, better medications are needed due to limited understanding of chronic pain mechanisms.

Area of Science:

  • Pain research
  • Neurology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Pain research experienced rapid growth until 2009, followed by a plateau potentially due to economic factors.
  • There has been a 66% increase in randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials for neuropathic pain medications.
  • Limited understanding of chronic pain mechanisms hinders the development of improved pain medications.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the ongoing growth and future potential of pain research.
  • To emphasize the urgent need for more effective and safer pain medications.
  • To discuss the factors driving advancements in pain management and drug discovery.

Main Methods:

  • Review of trends in pain research publication and clinical trial data.

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  • Analysis of factors influencing pain medication development.
  • Examination of the societal and economic impact of chronic pain.

    • Main Results:

    • Pain research growth is expected to continue due to increasing demand for better pain management.
    • An aging population and rising prevalence of chronic pain (11-47% in adults 40-75) will increase demand.
    • Societal costs of pain, estimated at $55 billion annually in lost productivity, underscore the need for better treatments.

    Conclusions:

    • Continued advancements in technology and understanding of pain pathways will accelerate drug discovery.
    • There is a critical need for novel pain medications to improve patient quality of life and reduce societal economic burden.
    • Future pain research holds significant promise for developing more efficacious and safer pain therapies.