Newly FDA Approved Medication Offers Hope For Veterans in Pain – Guy D. McCardle
If you are anything like me, you are a veteran, and you have chronic pain. It’s not exactly a secret that most of us do. We suck it up and live with it because what choice is there? I’ll also bet most of the veterans you know have some varying degrees of pain as well.
It’s an epidemic, but there may be hope on the horizon.
On January 30, 2025, Vertex Pharmaceuticals announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Journavx (suzetrigine), marking the first new class of pain medication in over two decades. Unlike traditional opioids, Journavx is a non-opioid oral pain signal inhibitor that blocks pain signals at their source, offering a promising alternative for pain management.
The Burden of Chronic Pain Among Veterans
Chronic pain is a significant burden for veterans in the United States, with studies showing they experience higher rates and greater intensity of pain compared to non-veterans. As of 2019, 31.5% of military veterans aged 20 and older reported chronic pain, compared to just 20.1% of non-veterans. A 2017 National Institutes of Health (NIH) report found that 65.6% of veterans had experienced pain within a three-month period, with 9.1% classified as suffering from severe pain. In fact, severe pain was 40% more prevalent in veterans than in the general population, particularly among those who served in recent conflicts.
From 2002 to 2018, pain prevalence among veterans increased across multiple types of pain. Joint pain saw the largest rise, with an 11.4% increase, making it 2.6 times more common in veterans than non-veterans. Low back pain also became more prevalent, increasing by 10.3% during this period. Veterans experiencing multiple sources of pain saw a 9.9% annual increase, which was 3.3 times higher than in non-veterans. These trends highlight the growing impact of chronic pain within the veteran community.
Age plays a significant role in chronic pain prevalence among veterans. Those aged 50-64 reported the highest rates, with 37.2% experiencing chronic pain, compared to 26.3% of non-veterans in the same age group. Even younger veterans, aged 20-34, showed a stark contrast, with 27.1% reporting chronic pain, compared to just 9.4% of non-veterans in that age range.
The effects of chronic pain on veterans extend beyond physical discomfort. It significantly reduces their quality of life, often leading to lost work productivity. Chronic pain is also linked to an increased risk of mental health disorders, including depression and anxiety, as well as a higher likelihood of substance use disorder and suicide.
If you are anything like me, you are a veteran, and you have chronic pain. It’s not exactly a secret that most of us do. We suck it up and live with it because what choice is there? I’ll also bet most of the veterans you know have some varying degrees of pain as well.
It’s an epidemic, but there may be hope on the horizon.
On January 30, 2025, Vertex Pharmaceuticals announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Journavx (suzetrigine), marking the first new class of pain medication in over two decades. Unlike traditional opioids, Journavx is a non-opioid oral pain signal inhibitor that blocks pain signals at their source, offering a promising alternative for pain management.
The Burden of Chronic Pain Among Veterans
Chronic pain is a significant burden for veterans in the United States, with studies showing they experience higher rates and greater intensity of pain compared to non-veterans. As of 2019, 31.5% of military veterans aged 20 and older reported chronic pain, compared to just 20.1% of non-veterans. A 2017 National Institutes of Health (NIH) report found that 65.6% of veterans had experienced pain within a three-month period, with 9.1% classified as suffering from severe pain. In fact, severe pain was 40% more prevalent in veterans than in the general population, particularly among those who served in recent conflicts.
From 2002 to 2018, pain prevalence among veterans increased across multiple types of pain. Joint pain saw the largest rise, with an 11.4% increase, making it 2.6 times more common in veterans than non-veterans. Low back pain also became more prevalent, increasing by 10.3% during this period. Veterans experiencing multiple sources of pain saw a 9.9% annual increase, which was 3.3 times higher than in non-veterans. These trends highlight the growing impact of chronic pain within the veteran community.
Age plays a significant role in chronic pain prevalence among veterans. Those aged 50-64 reported the highest rates, with 37.2% experiencing chronic pain, compared to 26.3% of non-veterans in the same age group. Even younger veterans, aged 20-34, showed a stark contrast, with 27.1% reporting chronic pain, compared to just 9.4% of non-veterans in that age range.
The effects of chronic pain on veterans extend beyond physical discomfort. It significantly reduces their quality of life, often leading to lost work productivity. Chronic pain is also linked to an increased risk of mental health disorders, including depression and anxiety, as well as a higher likelihood of substance use disorder and suicide.
Additionally, veterans with chronic pain tend to require more healthcare services, leading to increased medical costs.
These statistics emphasize the disproportionate burden of chronic pain among veterans and underscore the urgent need for better pain management strategies. More effective prevention and treatment programs tailored to veterans’ unique experiences and needs could greatly improve their quality of life and overall well-being.
The Opioid Crisis and Its Impact on Veterans
Several factors contribute to the heightened risk of opioid addiction among veterans. Chronic pain is a significant issue, affecting 60% of veterans from Middle East conflicts, with the rate climbing as high as 75% among female veterans. Combat exposure also plays a role, as veterans who have seen combat are 7 percentage points more likely to abuse prescription painkillers than those who were not deployed to combat zones. Additionally, mental health conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other psychological traumas greatly increase the risk of opioid dependence.
The financial burden of this crisis is substantial. The Department of Veterans Affairs spends over $1 billion each year on healthcare costs related to prescription painkiller abuse linked to combat exposure during the War on Terror. In fiscal year 2016 alone, approximately 68,000 veterans received treatment for opioid addiction, emphasizing the widespread nature of the issue.
Prescription opioid misuse is also a significant problem among veterans. Nearly half of combat-wounded veterans report misusing prescription opioids, and about 25% of patients prescribed opioids for chronic pain end up misusing them. Of those who misuse their prescriptions, 10% go on to develop Opioid Use Disorder, further fueling the crisis.
Addressing the opioid epidemic among veterans requires a multi-faceted approach that tackles both the physical and psychological factors driving addiction. Efforts to combat this crisis include increasing access to naloxone, implementing low-threshold wrap-around services, and adopting holistic approaches to pain management and addiction treatment. By prioritizing these initiatives, there is hope for reducing opioid dependence and improving the well-being of veterans struggling with chronic pain and substance use disorders.
Journavx: New Hope for Pain Management
Before I go any further, let me say I don’t want this article to start to sound like an ad for this stuff. I haven’t tried it. I’ve done no independent research. In the past, when other meds were held out as non-addictive and a major breakthrough in the fight against pain, let’s just say things didn’t go so well. With that said, I think this new medication warrants further evaluation.
That said, Journavx (suzetrigine) is a groundbreaking new pain medication. It’s not a stretch to say that it brings fresh hope to both patients and healthcare providers. Approved by the FDA on January 30, 2025, it is the first non-opioid oral pain signal inhibitor and the first new class of pain medicine to be approved in over 20 years. This approval marks a major step forward in pain management, offering an alternative to opioids that avoids the risks of addiction.
Journavx works by selectively blocking NaV1.8, a sodium channel found on pain-sensing nerve cells. This unique mechanism allows it to target pain signals before they reach the brain, operating within the peripheral nervous system rather than the central nervous system. As a result, it does not cause the respiratory depression and sedation associated with opioids, nor does it activate opioid receptors, eliminating the risk of addiction.
Clinical trials have shown that Journavx is highly effective in treating moderate to severe acute pain. Studies demonstrated that it provided significantly better pain relief compared to a placebo, with most patients experiencing meaningful pain reduction within two to four hours. This is a major improvement over traditional pain relief methods, which can take longer to become effective. The medication has also been well-tolerated, with only mild side effects reported, including itching, muscle spasms, and rashes.
The potential impact of Journavx on pain management is enormous. As a non-addictive alternative to opioids, it could drastically reduce the number of patients who become dependent on painkillers. It is approved for use across all types of moderate to severe acute pain, making it widely applicable in both surgical and non-surgical settings. Additionally, by providing an effective alternative to opioids, Journavx may help decrease the number of patients who transition to long-term opioid use, which currently affects about 10% of those initially prescribed opioids for acute pain.
Potential Benefits for Veterans
The introduction of Journavx could have profound implications for veterans:
Reduced Risk of Addiction: By offering effective pain relief without engaging the brain’s reward centers, Journavx minimizes the potential for addiction, a critical concern for veterans with chronic pain.
Improved Quality of Life: Effective pain management can enhance daily functioning, allowing veterans to engage more fully in personal and professional activities.
Support in Overcoming Opioid Dependence: For veterans currently struggling with opioid addiction, Journavx provides a non-addictive alternative, facilitating the transition away from opioids and aiding in recovery efforts.
Looking Ahead
While Journavx offers promising benefits, it’s essential to approach its integration into pain management plans thoughtfully. Healthcare providers should consider individual patient needs, monitor responses closely, and remain vigilant for any unforeseen side effects. Continued research and real-world evidence will be crucial in understanding the long-term efficacy and safety of this new medication.
Summing up, the approval of Journvx marks a potentially pivotal moment in pain management, especially for our nation’s veterans. By providing a non-opioid alternative, it holds the promise of effective pain relief without the risks associated with opioid therapies, offering hope for improved health and well-being for millions of Americans in pain.
