title: Transcutaneous electrical stimulation with Limoge current potentiates morphine analgesia and attenuates opiate abstinence syndrome.
abstract: Transcutaneous electrostimulation is a somewhat controversial technique used in the management of the opiate withdrawal syndrome. We report an animal study of a particular transcutaneous electrostimulation called transcutaneous cranial electrostimulation, based on a technique used for many years on heroin addicts for the rapid severance of their addiction, which has been validated in a clinical setting by a double-blind trial. This technique involves the application of an intermittent high-frequency current (Limoge's current). Our experimental data show that this transcutaneous cranial electrostimulation increases morphine analgesia by threefold on the tail flick latency measure and produces a 48% attenuation of the abstinence syndrome observed after abrupt cessation of morphine administration. These results were obtained using a double-blind paradigm.
authors.affiliation: Inserm U. 259, Université de Bordeaux II, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Auriacombe
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tignol
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Le Moal
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Stinus
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004357:Drug Synergism; D008297:Male; D009020:Morphine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009021:Morphine Dependence / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009619:Nociceptors / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011957:Receptors, Opioid / Q000187:drug effects*; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000187:drug effects; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004561:Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation
chemical_list: D011957:Receptors, Opioid; D009020:Morphine