Tag: Sodium channel blockers

Pharmacological studies and clinical evidence consistently demonstrate that bupivacaine is significantly more cardiotoxic than lidocaine, with its higher potency and different binding kinetics on cardiac sodium channels contributing to its increased risk. The distinction between these two commonly used local anesthetics is critical for anesthesiologists and other healthcare providers to manage local anesthetic systemic toxicity (LAST) effectively.

True allergic reactions to local anesthetics are rare, occurring in fewer than 1% of all cases [1.3.5]. So, what is the main effect of the local anesthetics? They reversibly block nerve signals in a specific area, preventing pain impulses from reaching the brain [1.2.2].

Every individual has a unique 'seizure threshold,' the level of brain excitability at which a seizure may occur. In this context, understanding what is the seizure threshold for lamotrigine is not about a fixed number but rather how the medication works to raise this threshold, effectively making seizures less likely.

Up to 70% of people with epilepsy have their seizures controlled with medication. But **what class is seizure meds**, and how do they work to calm abnormal brain activity? These medications, more accurately termed antiseizure drugs (ASDs) or antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), are categorized into several classes based on their unique pharmacological mechanisms, from modulating ion channels to enhancing neurotransmitter effects.

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.

In the face of the ongoing opioid crisis, the need for effective, non-addictive pain treatments has never been more urgent. Several promising drug candidates are now emerging from clinical trials, raising the question: What new painkiller could soon replace Opioids?

First synthesized in 1908, phenytoin was approved by the FDA in 1939 and is primarily a hydantoin-derivative anticonvulsant. This medication, known by brand names such as Dilantin, is used to control and prevent various types of seizures by decreasing abnormal electrical activity in the brain. While its use as a primary anti-epileptic has shifted, understanding what class of drug is phenytoin is crucial for clinical practice.

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 early 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first new class of oral pain medication in over two decades. This breakthrough answers the question: **What is the new pain blocking pill?** It is a non-opioid drug called Journavx (suzetrigine), developed as an alternative to highly addictive opioid medications.