As the nation wrestles with a mounting opioid crisis that claims thousands of lives each year, a group that includes a University of Florida Health researcher has found that a chemical in a cactus-like plant delivers long-lasting pain relief and shows potential as an opioid substitute.
The chemical, known as resiniferatoxin or RTX, effectively reduced pain in rats, dogs and one human patient. Researchers found that a single dose of the drug provided weeks or months of pain relief without affecting sensations such as vibration and touch. The findings were published recently in The Journal of Clinical Investigation.

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