Chasing Life A Breakthrough in Pain Management Without Opioids
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Feb 18, 2025 Exciting developments in pain management are on the horizon with the FDA's approval of a new opioid-free medication, Suzetrogene. This innovative drug blocks pain signals effectively, offering a fresh approach to relief after 25 years. Discussions also include Jernovex, which targets sodium channels for acute pain, though its chronic pain benefits are still being evaluated. Additionally, the episode tackles flu shot timing, reassuring listeners that getting vaccinated later in the season can still offer protection, especially for travelers.
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New Painkiller Mechanism
- Jernovax, a new painkiller, blocks pain signals before they reach the brain, unlike opioids, which dull pain in the brain.
- This new approach is based on a gene found in a Pakistani family who could feel heat but not pain.
Pakistani Family and Pain
- A family in Pakistan could walk on hot coals without feeling pain, inspiring the research behind Jernovax.
- They could feel the coals' heat but not the pain, indicating a unique pain-signaling mechanism.
Flu Season Peak
- Flu season peaks in February, based on data from the last 40 years.
- Getting a flu shot even late in the season is helpful, as it takes two weeks to build immunity.