Drug of the week series - 27.4

General
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Name of the drug:Suzetrigine

Introduction:In 2025 FDA approved this drug and it is commercially being used as under the name of JOURNAVX

It is a non opioid analgesic

Mechanism of action

Suzetrigine stops the signalling of pain to reach to brain by selectively blocking NaV1.8 sodium channel which is primarily responsible for transmitting of pain

After that pain signalling get reduced.

Indications

This drug is basically used in the case of moderate and severe pain in adults

Can be used as post operative pain killer too.

Adverse effects

  • Rash
  • Increased level of creatine phosphokinase
  • Muscle spasms
  • Pruritis

Contraindications

  • It should not be used along strong CYP3A inhibitors
  • Grapefruit should be avoided
  • Only be used for short period of time

Dosage

100mg orally as an initial dose can be administered followed with 50mg every 12 hours

Key takeaway

Instead of targeting opioid receptors,Suzetrigine is new approach for pain management that targets sodium gated channel.

Could Non opioid analgesic will become a good alternative for opioid analgesic?

Share your views!

3 Likes
2

Yes, non opiod analgesics were paradigmally becoming good alternatives for opiod analgesics. To break the dependance of opiods,respiratory depression and overdose, recent medicine breakthrough has introduced new class of highly targeted non opiod medications which can manage moderate to severe pain without any affects on Central Nervous System or any Addiction.

3

Non opioid analgesics like NSAIDs and paracetamol can provide pain relief comparable to opioids in certain conditions, especially postoperative pain. However, they cannot replace opioids in every case, particularly severe pain, because the choice depends on pain intensity, its cause, and the patient’s condition.

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Use of non opioid analgesic can surely be better than use of opioid analgesic cause it also eliminates the severe side effects caused by it rather it can possibly be a safer option in case of use for short period but strictly under a professionals prescription