Tag: Opioid alternative

As of November 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved an expanded label for Exparel, specifically indicating its use for a sciatic nerve block in the popliteal fossa in adults. This makes it a standard, FDA-approved option for regional anesthesia in specific foot and ankle surgeries.

In January 2025, the FDA approved suzetrigine (brand name Journavx), the first novel non-opioid pain medication to be approved in over two decades. This milestone offers a new option for moderate to severe acute pain, but **does suzetrigine work** effectively and safely for patients looking for an opioid alternative?

In a significant medical breakthrough, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Journavx™ (suzetrigine) in January 2025, marking the first new class of oral pain medication approved in over two decades. The answer to **what is the new painkiller replacing opioids?** is centered on this novel non-addictive medication, which targets specific pain-signaling pathways without the risks of addiction and overdose associated with traditional opioids.

While the fast-acting pain relief inhaler Penthrox, known informally as the “green whistle,” is a common sight in emergency and trauma settings across Australia and Europe, the medication is not available for civilian use in the USA. Its absence is rooted in a complicated history with its active ingredient, methoxyflurane, and a formal safety determination made by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) nearly two decades ago.

In early 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Journavx (suzetrigine), a new class of non-opioid pain medication, prompting many to ask, "Is journaux painkiller addictive?". This question often stems from a common typo for the drug's name, but the answer is significant for patients seeking safer pain relief options.

Medical experts and healthcare systems are increasingly turning to nerve blocks as a safer alternative to addictive opioids for managing pain, especially after surgery. So, are nerve blockers addictive? The short answer is no, in most therapeutic contexts, they do not lead to dependence.

With opioid-involved overdose deaths in the U.S. exceeding 80,000 annually, the search for safer alternatives has become a public health imperative. This raises a critical question for millions: **what is the new pain killer to replace opioids** and break this devastating cycle?

According to the DEA, prescriptions for gabapentin in the US steadily increased to 73.1 million in 2024, yet many people are still confused about what type of pain killer is gabapentin and its mechanism. Unlike conventional painkillers, it belongs to the anticonvulsant class and specifically targets nerve-related pain.

With millions suffering from chronic pain, the opioid crisis has intensified the urgent search for safer, non-addictive alternatives. The good news is that after decades of minimal progress, several entirely new painkiller candidates could finally replace opioids by targeting pain at its source without the risk of dependence.

In 2023, nearly 80,000 people died from an opioid overdose in the United States [1.7.3]. This staggering statistic has fueled a decades-long search for a powerful new painkiller without addiction. That search has led to suzetrigine, a first-in-class medication offering hope for safer pain management [1.3.3, 1.4.5].