The FDA on Thursday approved a new class of pain medication that provides an alternative to opioids. It will be sold under the brand name Journavx.

Suzetrigine, to be sold under the brand name Journavx, is the first new type of pain medicine approved by the FDA in more than two decades. It works by stopping nerve cells from sending pain signals to the brain.

It’s become a familiar tragedy: someone is prescribed pain medication to recover from an injury, then becomes addicted to the medication intended to improve their life. It’s left both healthcare professionals and people recovering from surgery in a difficult position: should you take medication that will make your life more manageable if there’s a risk