RSSNewsletterSiteMapFeedback

Home · Weather · Forum · Learning Chinese · Jobs · Shopping
Search This Site
China | International | Business | Government | Environment | Olympics/Sports | Travel/Living in China | Culture/Entertainment | Books & Magazines | Health
Home / Health / News Tools: Save | Print | E-mail | Most Read
Drug found to kill chronic-pain without side effects
Adjust font size:

Researchers have found a drug to treat chronic pain in mice, without the usual painkiller side effects of sedation, addiction or developing tolerance.

Whether the compound has the same effect in people remains unknown, but researchers led by Hanns Ulrich Zeilhofer of the University of Zurich in Switzerland are progressing with "cautious optimism," science magazine Nature reported Thursday.

The compound comes from the class of drugs, benzodiazepines, which are widely used for sedation or treatment of anxiety, according to the researchers.

They made the finding while studying why benzodiazepines act on brain pathways involved with pain perception, but are seldom effective at relieving pain.

The researchers first tested diazepam, commonly known as valium, by injecting it into the spines of mice.

The researchers found that diazepam could indeed relieve pain as mice, which either endured a painful injection or had a nerve squeezed to simulate chronic pain, were less bothered if they received the spinal injections.

According to the researchers, the next step is to find drugs that will act the same way in humans but without using spinal injections that require a catheter, which are unsuitable for most patients.

(Agencies via Xinhua News Agency January 18, 2008)

Tools: Save | Print | E-mail | Most Read

Comment
Username Password Anonymous
China Archives
Related >>
- FDA warns of deadly potential of painkiller Fentora overuse
- Cephalon Warns of Deaths Linked to Its Cancer Painkiller
Most Viewed >>
-20 Tumors Removed from 'Elephant Man'
-Study: Type-2 diabetics should avoid
-Medical Service for Foreigners
-A pint of beer is better than water after a workout
-A Different Point of View
SiteMap | About Us | RSS | Newsletter | Feedback

Copyright © China.org.cn. All Rights Reserved E-mail: webmaster@china.org.cn Tel: 86-10-88828000 京ICP证 040089号