Avoiding uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms can be one of the main reasons that opioid users continue to use the drugs.
Earlier this month, a company called US WorldMeds has won approval from the FDA for a medication called Lucemyra aimed at easing many of those symptoms including anxiety, diarrhea, vomiting, muscle aches, agitation, runny nose and drug cravings.
What makes Lucemyra unique is that it is a non-opioid based medication (often opioid withdrawal is treated with other opioids).
WorldMeds reportedly went $20 million into debt developing the drug and working to win approval from the FDA. But the company expects that the fast-growing market for opioid addiction will drive sales for Lucemyra. It is estimated that about 92 million Americans use prescription opioids and about 12 million are physically dependent on the drugs.
Read the full Courier Journal report.