Ziconotide is a novel non-opioid, non local anesthetic, developed for the treatment of severe chronic pain.

The analysis, which included 105 patients, revealed that the difference in pain reduction between the two groups was substantial with a reduction in pain scores of approximately 40% in one group compared to no change in the placebo griup.

Ziconotide also seems to improve the sleep pattern in some patients with chronic severe pain. Patients experienced positive effects on nocturnal sleep duration and believed that remaining pain symptoms interfered less with their daily life.

Compared with placebo, ziconotide was associated with significantly more adverse effects, including somnolence, confusion, urinary incontinence, and fever, but these were reversible with dose reduction. Seven cases of meningitis occurred in patients with external drug delivery systems.

Ziconotide (formerly SNX-111) selectively blocks N-type voltage-sensitive calcium channels and may be effective in patients with pain that is refractory to opioid therapy or those with intolerable opioid-related adverse effects.

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