Flupirtine

Flupirtine is an aminopyridine that functions as a centrally acting non-opioid analgesic. It first became available in Europe in 1984, and is sold mainly under the names Katadolon, Trancolong, Awegal, Efiret, Trancopal Dolo, and Metanor. Flupirtine is sold by Intas Pharma under the brand name Pruf in India. It is unique as a non-opioid, non-NSAID, non-steroidal analgesic. In 2010 the chemically related drug (only difference being that the pyridine group in flupirtine is replaced with a phenyl group) retigabine (INN; ezogabine ) was approved by the FDA as an anticonvulsant for the treatment of partial seizures. Retigabine also works by opening the neuronal KCNQ/Kv7 potassium channel, just like flupirtine.