On 22 June 2009, DEA Drug Enforcement Agency approval was received in the United States for a new pain drug called Tapentadol. The brand name is Nucynta. (noo-SIN-tah)
The new pain drug was especially approved for nerve pain conditions such as fibromyalgia and peripheral neuropathy, (so it seems hopeful for TN as well,) because it affects opiate centers of brain and also norepinephrine in brain.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tapentadol
Another new drug that is the same as Tapentadol but a different brand is called Levorphanol (Levo-Dromoran).
It is because of the development of these 2 drugs that drugs such as Vicodin, Oxycontin, Oxycodone, etc. are being considered to be taken off the market, because these new drugs control pain just as well but do not have the psychologically addicting euphoric effects, not even in a person who is not experiencing pain. They also have fewer side affects. These are the first new pain medicines to be developed for severe pain in 25+ years, since Tramadol (Ultram). It is considered to have a potency between morphine and tramadol (ultram).
Its dual mode of action provides analgesia at similar levels of more potent narcotic analgesics such as hydrocodone, oxycodone and morphine with more tolerable side affects.
So those of you who were worried about the other medicines being taken off the market, I don't think that will happen, but if it does, there are now alternatives. Morphine and other injectable pain medications are not part of the suggested bill to ban certain drugs. Blessings, Sheila