I've been talking with my doctor about the next drugs to come, something that better, more directly deals with small fibre neuropathies.

If you don't know (I didn't), there is a lot of research happening with voltage gated sodium channels, specifically concentrating on Na(V)1.7, and further on the discovery of a mutation in sodium channel gene SCN9A (there is a family in Pakistan who, joyously for them, cannot feel sensory pain).

I've spent all my available time recently reading pubished articles in this area. For the first time I actually feel hopeful that there is progress being made.

Unfortunately, I'm told that the best guess is that we are at least five years away from anything coming to market that specifically address this research, and that the drug companies haven't even started any human trials yet (it seems Merck is the closet).

In any case, I suggest reading the following, though I warn you, some of these articles are rather rough sledding:

http://www.ionchannels.org/showabstr...?pmid=19005548

and then under the same heading change the last number to 18824099 and 18021327. There are many others around there.

Also: http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/art...z&artid=515119 gives a really good overview of this topic.

So it seems we're getting closer.

-- Dennis

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/sh...odium+channels

Some of the links are the same as yours.

I will say...that drugs often don't result from promising studies.

I recall memantine (now Namenda).
In Europe there was much promise of this drug which is a NMDA antagonist to help with neuropathy pain. It just didn't happen.
Now Namenda is used for Alzheimer's, here.
http://www.ntii.com/wt/page/memantine

Merck had a drug that showed promise for depression in the elderly...It is now Emend for chemo induced nausea.
The indication for depression was not proven enough for the FDA. And Merck now charges over $100 a pill for it in its current capacity.

One would think with the millions of people with chronic pain, we could have some breakthrough to help....it is frustrating why it is taking so long!