Expert opinion on investigational drugs
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Expert Opin Investig Drugs · Jul 2004
Review Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical TrialIntrathecal ziconotide for refractory pain.
For cancer and AIDS patients, 10-30% of pain is refractory to strong opioids, requiring intraspinal administration for pain management. Ziconotide is a selective N-type calcium channel blocker, which inhibits neurotransmitter release, and following intrathecal administration will affect primary nociceptive afferents. ⋯ In the 48 patients receiving ziconotide, who proceeded to the maintenance phase, the benefit of ziconotide was continued. Until a new approach with a better effectiveness/adverse effects profile than ziconotide for refractory pain emerges, further optimisation of ziconotide for use in the treatment of refractory pain should be undertaken.