title: [Analgesic effects of an oral dose of clonidine].
abstract: Experimental data and anecdotal clinical observations have shown that clonidine, an alpha 2-agonist, has a marked analgesic effect. We investigated clonidine-induced analgesia in response to nociceptive stimuli. On 2 different days 7 normal volunteers received either placebo or clonidine (200 micrograms) orally according to a cross-over, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled design. Analgesia was assessed by measurement of the subjective (VAS) and objective (R III reflex) pain thresholds. A close correlation was observed between subjective and objective pain thresholds (r = 0.88, y = 0.2 + 1.2 x). Clonidine increased the objective threshold by 21% (+6.2 mA, SEM 2.4) and the subjective threshold by 10% (+2.4 mA, SEM 1.3). Drug effect was rapid (peak between 90 and 120 min) and overall analgesia lasted up to 4 hours. Side effects were a moderate fall in blood pressure, sedation and dryness of the mouth. A single oral dose of clonidine induces significant analgesia. These results suggest that clonidine is potentially a worthwhile drug for pain treatment which deserves further clinical investigation.
authors.affiliation: Division de Pharmacologie clinique, Hôpital cantonal universitaire, Genève.
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Porchet
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Piletta
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dayer
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D003000:Clonidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D003000:Clonidine
vernacular_title: Effet analgésique d'une dose orale de clonidine.