What’s new in the pharmacotherapy of pain?

Overview

New developments in the pharmacotherapy of pain have brought both new drugs and new delivery forms of already established substances.

The aim of the development of new drugs is first of all reducing the occurrence of undesirable side effects, an increase in efficiency and more comfortable modes of application.

The new opioid formulas include controlled-release hydromorfon, matrix transdermal delivery of fentanyl and Ionsys transdermal fentanyl for treatment of acute postoperative pain.

Ionsys combines fixed background delivery of fentanyl and patient-controlled bolus administration of rapidly absorbing fentanyl. Ionsys will be the first application system of its kind on the market.

Our choice of anticonvulsants grew with the new medication Pregabalin (brand name Lyrica) in 2005.We will probably encounter a new, true analgesic antidepressant next year. In the field of neuromodulation there is a continuing trend of miniaturization and prolonging the lifespan of devices.Two of the leading manufacturers of these devices introduced their new products at the 7^th INS World Congress in Rome. Medtronic introduced a rechargeable neurostimulator Revita and a new programmable SynchroMed pump. ANS introduced their Renew neurostimulator (radio-frequency (RF) system) using an external power source.

Key words:
hydromorphon – fentanyl – Ionsys – pregabalin – duloxetin – neuromodulation