Met-enkephalin vs Ziconotide
Head-to-head comparison of Met-enkephalin (Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe-Met) and Ziconotide (ω-Conotoxin MVIIA (ziconotide)) — benefits, dosing, side effects, research data, and where to buy.
Research Score
| Property | Met-enkephalin | Ziconotide |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Pain Management | Pain Management |
| Full Name | Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe-Met | ω-Conotoxin MVIIA (ziconotide) |
| Molecular Weight | 573.67 Da | 2639.1 Da |
| Half-Life | 1-5 minutes in plasma | approximately 4.5 hours |
| Amino Acids | 5 | 25 |
| Typical Dose | 0.1-5 ug per animal | 0.5-19.2 mcg/day |
| Route | Intrathecal / intracerebroventricular | Intrathecal |
| Purity | ≥98% | ≥98% |
| Studies Count | 1200 | 500 |
| Research Status | Pre-clinical | Approved |
Met-enkephalin Benefits
- ✓endogenous opioid signaling
- ✓analgesic reference ligand
- ✓spinal antinociception
- ✓neurochemical pain-pathway probe
Ziconotide Benefits
- ✓strong non-opioid analgesia
- ✓effective for refractory neuropathic pain
- ✓opioid-sparing option
- ✓intrathecal delivery allows targeted action
Met-enkephalin Dosing
Intrathecal 0.1-5 ug per animal|Intracerebroventricular 0.1-2 ug per animal|In vitro 1-100 nM
Ziconotide Dosing
start 0.5 mcg/day intrathecal|titrate by 0.5 mcg/day no more than 2 times weekly|max 19.2 mcg/day in labeling
Met-enkephalin Side Effects
- ⚠sedation at higher exposure
- ⚠constipation-like opioid effects
- ⚠rapid enzymatic degradation
Ziconotide Side Effects
- ⚠dizziness
- ⚠confusion
- ⚠ataxia
Research Overview
Met-enkephalin
Met-enkephalin has been extensively used in receptor pharmacology and nociception studies to map mu and delta opioid biology. The main limitation in translational work is very short half-life from peptidase cleavage and poor systemic stability.
Ziconotide
Clinical studies and post-marketing data support ziconotide as an analgesic for severe chronic pain that does not respond to conventional therapy. Research focuses on balancing analgesic efficacy with neuropsychiatric tolerability and careful dose titration.
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