Flupirtine, a re-discovered drug, revisited

Abstract Flupirtine was developed long before $ K_{V} $7 (KCNQ) channels were known. However, it was clear from the beginning that flupirtine is neither an opioid nor a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory analgesic. Its unique muscle relaxing activity was discovered by serendipity. In the meantime, broad and intensive research has resulted in a partial clarification of its mode of action. Flupirtine is the first therapeutically used $ K_{V} $7 channel activator with additional $ GABA_{A} $ergic mechanisms and thus the first representative of a novel class of analgesics. The presently accepted main mode of its action, potassium $ K_{V} $7 (KCNQ) channel activation, opens a series of further therapeutic possibilities. One of them has now been realized: its back-up compound, the bioisostere retigabine, has been approved for the treatment of epilepsy..

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2013

Erschienen:

2013

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:62

Enthalten in:

Inflammation research - 62(2013), 3 vom: 16. Jan., Seite 251-258

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Szelenyi, Istvan [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext [lizenzpflichtig]

Themen:

Analgesia
GABA
Potassium channels
Retigabine
Skeletal muscle relaxation

Anmerkungen:

© Springer Basel 2013

doi:

10.1007/s00011-013-0592-5

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

OLC2080425315