Nicotine and nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) have been explored for the past three decades as targets for pain control, in particularl the α7 nAChRs subtypes. I will present the latest developments on the role of α7 nAChRs in neuropathic pain and the potential of α7 nAChRs ligands as potential analgesics. Our studies and others suggest that selective ligands for α7 nAChRs hold promise in the treatment of chronic pain conditions as they lack many of side effects associated with other nicotinic receptor types.