posted on March 22, 2010 08:40:55 PM new
[But I can imagine scary long-term implications of shutting down Nerve Growth Factor, especially in the brain. Slow dementia, anyone? --B]
March 21, 2010 |
Chronic Pain Relief
Chronic pain may be due to an overabundance of a protein, which amplifies the pain signal to the brain. A drug that neutralizes this protein may provide the long-awaited relief.
Chronic pain is an invisible and agonizing symptom. Long after physical damage heals, a throbbing, tingling, shooting pain can linger—sometimes constantly, for days, months, even years. And so far there’s no real cure.
Studies have shown that physiology and genetics can increase pain sensitivity, and one thing for certain—without the brain there is no pain.
But recently the big pharma company Pfizer has developed a new drug, tanezumab, that inhibits a protein involved in transmitting the pain signal to the brain.
This protein is called nerve growth factor (NGF). It’s a naturally occurring protein, but its levels rise dramatically in response to some diseases and injuries. In the short-term it activates pain-signaling nerves and this results in what we feel is pain. But it can also increase the expression of neurotransmitters and this can change how sensory nerves transmit pain messages for the long-term. It’s as if NGF amplifies the pain message to the brain.
Tanezumab apparently neutralizes NGF and puts a halt to this amped-up pain signal.
The drug is in final clinical trials, and Pfizer management says it has blockbuster potential. That might mean financial blockbuster, but hopefully it will also mean relief for the roughly 40 million pain sufferers in the U.S.
posted on March 24, 2010 06:14:16 AM new
I find relief through diet, Acupuncture, Reflexology, Reiki and Massotherapy. I don't take any pain medication stronger than aspirin. Pain is also an indication that something is wrong. Take the pain completely away and how many people are going to seek the medical attention they should be seeking? Just a thought.
They come up with a pill for everything. Just this morning, they were talking about an exercise pill on the news. Now that would be just plain lazy!
Call me cynical, but for the most part the pharmaceutical companies are in it for the big bucks they're making. They should work on a way to reduce the cost of the medications they're already selling. JHMO.
posted on March 24, 2010 10:57:58 AM new
LOL, Prof! I like that solution just fine. A couple of snakebites usually does the trick quite nicely. For those that don't know what a snakebite is: Yukon Jack and lime juice! i love 'em.
