New Non Opioid Drug Journavx Offers Pain Relief After Surgery

A new non-opioid pain medicine is giving some surgical patients another option for managing pain. Journavx is the first new non-opioid pain medicine approved by the FDA in nearly 20 years.

Fox Carolina reported that some patients have found the drug effective without the sleepiness constipation or fog they associate with opioids.

Dr. Kevin Walker of Prisma Health said studies comparing its generic form suzetrigine with hydrocodone found similar pain relief with fewer side effects.

That could be important after surgery. Reducing opioid use can also reduce unnecessary exposure to drugs that can lead to dependence.

There is an important distinction though. Journavx doesn’t treat opioid dependence. Someone who already has an opioid use disorder may still need medical detox and ongoing treatment.

How Journavx Works

Journavx works on nerves rather than directly in the brain and spinal cord. It blocks pain signals before they travel to the brain.

The idea came from an unusual case that involved a 10-year-old street performer in northern Pakistan. According to the report the boy could walk on hot coals and perform other acts without appearing to feel pain.

British researchers studied him and six relatives in 2006. They found a rare genetic mutation that affected sodium channels involved in sending pain signals through the nerves.

Scientists spent years trying to reproduce that effect in a medicine. The result was suzetrigine which was later approved by the FDA as Journavx for acute pain.

Walker has prescribed it to some patients and said the results have been mixed. Some people recovering from surgery have done very well with it.

That’s encouraging but it doesn’t mean the drug will work the same way for everyone.

What Patients Have Experienced

Laura Ziesel told Fox Carolina that she took Journavx before surgery and for 12 days afterward. She said she felt normal while taking it and didn’t experience the sleepiness constipation or feeling of being loopy that she associated with opioid pain medication.

She also said she recovered well after stopping the drug and hadn’t needed pain medication since. Stories like that are useful but they’re still individual experiences. They don’t tell us whether Journavx will reduce addiction risk for every patient.

Researchers are still studying other potential uses including chronic pain. Cost may also be an issue. The report puts the retail price without insurance at about $15.50 per pill.

Pain Medicine and Opioid Dependence Are Different Issues

A person who uses a non-opioid pain medicine after surgery isn’t in the same situation as someone who already has opioid dependence. That distinction matters.

Someone with opioid use disorder may have developed tolerance and may experience withdrawal when they stop using. Trying to stop without appropriate support can also increase the risk of returning to opioid use.

Alcohol and benzodiazepine withdrawal can be even more dangerous. In some cases withdrawal can lead to seizures or delirium and requires medical supervision.

Medical detox gives patients a safer setting for withdrawal. Depending on the substance and the person’s needs treatment may include medications hydration monitoring and a plan for continuing care after detox.

What Happens When Someone With Dependence Needs Surgery

Someone with opioid dependence who needs surgery should tell the surgical and anesthesia teams about their substance use and current treatment.

The medical team can then build a pain plan that takes the person’s history into account. That may include limiting opioid exposure when appropriate and making sure treatment for opioid use disorder isn’t interrupted without a plan.

Medications such as buprenorphine methadone and naltrexone are used in different situations. How they fit around surgery and pain treatment depends on the individual so those decisions should be made with a qualified clinician.

Finding Detox After Surgery

Pain medication can sometimes become a problem after a procedure. If taking pain pills has turned into daily use or stopping them causes withdrawal symptoms it’s worth talking with a medical professional.

Detox.com lists detox centers and medical detox programs that can evaluate withdrawal and help determine what level of care is appropriate. Call 800-996-6135Sponsored to ask about medically supervised detox programs near you.