Cebranopadol for the Treatment of Chronic Pain

AbstractPurpose of ReviewRegardless of the etiology, if pain persists chronically, it can detrimentally impact multiple aspects of a patient ’s well-being. Both physical and psychological effects are significant in many chronic pain patients. In this regard, psychological consequences can alter a patient’s quality of life, functionality, and social functioning. Opioids have been the long-established gold standard for acute pain treat ment in settings such as the postoperative period. An alternative to opioids in pain management has been highly sought after. Through a non-selective mechanism, cebranopadol is a first-in-class oral drug which combines agonism of the mu and nociceptin opioid peptide (NOP) receptors to provide improv ed analgesia, while reducing the occurrence of many typically opioid side effects. This manuscript is a narrative review of the possible use of cebranopadol in pain management.Recent FindingsIn pre-clinical studies, cebranopadol was similar to morphine in its pain control efficacy. In a phase IIa trial, cebranopadol was superior to placebo in reducing pain. In a randomized clinical trial, cebranopadol was superior to morphine. Another study concluded that cebranopadol had a lower misuse potential when compared to hydromorphone.SummaryIn summary, cebranopadol offers new opportunities in treating chronic moderate to severe pain, while also countering risks of addiction. Additional studies are warranted to further evaluate the safety and efficacy of ...
Source: Current Pain and Headache Reports - Category: Neurology Source Type: research