For those suffering from opiate addiction, it is a wise idea to disclose our past histories with our doctors. However, it might not even come to that anymore, as there may be a replacement of morphine altogether. Strangely enough, that replacement would be derived from centipede venom.
More interesting, the venom treatments would not just be for those suffering with opiate addiction, but for anyone seeking pain relief. The initial studies suggest that the agents within centipede venom may be more effective at fighting pain than synthetic painkillers or other pain pills.
Furthermore, the venom from the Chinese redheaded centipede, which contains a sodium-ion channel blocker, causes indifference to all forms of pain, and not just specific types of pain like many current painkillers on the market.
There are challenges in developing a treatment, though. The proteins targeted by the venom run along one of nine channels, which effect other “easily excitable” and neurons. Among those are cells that control heart and muscle function. In other words, any treatment has to be specific to those areas that are specific to pain.
The good news is that the Chinese redheaded centipede seems to have 150 times the selectivity for that specific pain channel (Nav1.7) over other channels. Best of all, research currently indicates that there is little to no risk for addiction by using venom-based pain therapies because it does not block the same receptors that morphine does.
There is an increasing body of research looking toward animal venoms for use in pain relief, but this is the first to focus specifically on centipede venom.
To date, chronic pain costs the US more than $600 billion a year—more than cancer, heart disease, and diabetes combined. It is believed that up to 20% of the population suffers from chronic pain at any given time, and thus the risk for opiate addiction is consistently high among the population. With the advent of a new pain treatment, the annual costs of addiction may be dropping as well.
While this new finding is promising, recovering addicts and alcoholics have heard much of this before. Many prescription pain pills were once declared “non-addictive,” only for users to later discover otherwise. For those in recovery managing chronic pain, individual therapy can help them navigate the balance between effective pain management and avoiding relapse.
Especially for opiate addicts, the risks are even higher. The very medications used to treat pain are often the same ones an opiate addict craves, making the temptation to misuse them constant. Because addicts struggle with control by definition, relying on opiate-based painkillers can turn pain management into a daily gamble, increasing the risk of relapse. 449 Recovery provides personalized treatment programs, counseling, and monitoring to help individuals safely navigate pain management while addressing the underlying addiction, equipping them with the tools and support needed for lasting recovery.
What do you think? Is this one more false hope for addicts suffering from chronic pain, or is this the solution they have all been waiting for? Let us know in the comments section below!
