Suzetrigine prevents pain signals from reaching the brain and doesn't give an opioid-like high, making it non-addictive—but it's expensive.

A participant in the drug trial for Journavx said it eliminated her pain without making her feel loopy or nauseous

The Food and Drug Administration approved Vertex Pharmaceuticals' non-opioid painkiller pill, a new alternative for pain relief that comes without the risk of addiction.  It's a milestone after a long history of unsuccessful efforts to develop painkillers without the destructive dependency of opioids,