Innovations in pharmacologic therapies.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

To describe the mechanism of action of four new neurotransmitters that may play a role in pain modulation and to review the clinical implications of these new classes of analgesics.

DATA SOURCES:

Research studies, proceedings, abstracts, and book chapters pertaining to new pharmacologic therapies for pain relief.

CONCLUSIONS:

Recent advances in our understanding of neurotransmitter and receptor physiology have provided new directions for the development and testing of analgesic compounds. NMDA antagonists and calcium channel blockers warrant investigations in humans. Additional human studies are needed of alpha 2 adrenergic agonists and GABA agonists.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE:

Knowledge of new novel classes of analgesics is important as further investigative studies will take place to determine which types of pain problems are most effectively treated by these classes of drugs.

• Authors: C Miaskowski
• Journal: Seminars in oncology nursing (Semin Oncol Nurs) Vol. 13 Issue 1 Pg. 30-5 (Feb 1997) ISSN: 0749-2081 [Print] United States
• PMID: 9048434 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Adrenergic alpha-Agonists
• Calcium Channel Blockers
• GABA Agonists
• Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate

Topics

• Adrenergic alpha-Agonists (therapeutic use)
• Calcium Channel Blockers (therapeutic use)
• GABA Agonists (therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Neoplasms (physiopathology)
• Pain (drug therapy, etiology, physiopathology)
• Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate (antagonists & inhibitors)