Small Molecules Targeting the NMDA Receptor Complex as Drugs for Neuropathic Pain

Rosa      Planells-Cases; Enrique      Perez-Paya; Angel      Messeguer; Cristina      Carreno; Antonio      Ferrer-Montiel

doi:10.2174/1389557033487782

Abstract

Pain is a complex disease that usually remains poorly treated or undertreated, especially the neuropathic pain caused by injury to the peripheral or central nervous system. Antagonists of the NMDA receptor complex have emerged as potential drugs for pain management. A strong case is being raised for noncompetitive or uncompetitive antagonists with low-to-moderate affinity and fast on / offset kinetics as drugs with good therapeutic profiles, because of their reduced side effects.

Keywords: excitatory activity, nerve damage, inflammation, ion channels, protein networks, uncompetitive antagonists, synaptic plasticity, drug discovery, pain killers