Tarantula toxin may be used as powerful painkiller

[WhiteTara]

http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2016/02/29/Tarantula-toxin-may-be-used-as-powerful-painkiller/6121456757092/

WASHINGTON, Feb. 29 (UPI) -- Researchers in Australia have identified a peptide in the Peruvian green velvet tarantula's venom that may work as a more effective, less addictive painkiller, according to a new study.

In addition to the peptide discovery, researchers reported a new role the cell membrane can play in the efficacy of drugs on pain receptors, which could help other studies on the painkilling potential of other substances.

The goal, researchers said, is to find painkillers with fewer side effects and addictive qualities that can control pain as well as or better than current options.

The finding was reported as part of a presentation at the annual meeting of the Biophysical Society, where researchers showed the potential medical uses for ProTx-II, a peptide toxin found in the venom of the Peruvian green velvet tarantula.

Researchers at Yale identified the tarantula's toxin as a potential painkiller in 2014 after screening more than 100 spider toxins that could blunt activity in pain-sensing neurons.

[Dustlawyer]

1. I really hope it works.

There is another effective pain reliever, but the DEA and the FDA block studies of it. I wonder what it could be...

[Warpy]

2. Every non opiate painkiller thay've brought out

has had some extremely bad side effects that were only discovered after the drug had been widely used for some time. Opiates remain the safest painkiller causing the fewest body system problems. Unfortunately, they also allow people to build up tolerance and become dependent as well as causing outright addiction in the unlucky few.

I've been waiting all my life for a medication or treatment that would kill chronic pain without all the side effects.