Areas of the brain that respond to reward and pleasure are linked to the ability of a drug known as butorphanol to relieve itch, according to new research. The findings point to the involvement of the brains opioid receptors in itch relief, potentially opening up new avenues to the development of treatments for chronic itch which affects roughly 12 percent of the population. The underlying conditions that can cause chronic itch are expansive and varied, ranging from atopic eczema and psoriasis to systemic diseases such as lymphoma and chronic liver failure.
Posted on: Wed, 24 Sep 2014 23:00:00 +0000